One sister have I in our house,
And one a hedge away,
There’s only one recorded
But both belong to me.
One came the way that I came
And wore my past year’s gown;
The other I stole in Holyoke
At a festival in town.
She did not dress as we did,
It was a different code,
Herself attracted to the fashions
Of a French circus wardrobe.
To-day is far from childhood
But when the fairs arrive
I hold her hand the tighter,
Fearing away she’d strive.
And still her clothes the years among
Confuses Butterflies,
Still in her coat the Violets lie
Mouldered this many May.
I spilt some blood but took the girl,
I chose this single freak
From out the wide night’s games:
Sue – forevermore!
—
The original, though with different line breaks, with interpretation explaining the reference to two sisters.
