A Maypole

Deprived of root, and branch and rind,

Yet flowers I bear of every kind:

And such is my prolific power,

They bloom in less than half an hour;

Yet standers-by may plainly see

They get no nourishment from me.

My head with giddiness goes round,

And yet I firmly stand my ground:

All over naked I am seen,

And painted like an Indian queen.

No couple-beggar in the land

E'er joined such numbers hand in hand.

I joined them fairly with a ring;

Nor can our parson blame the thing.

And though no marriage words are spoke,

They part not till the ring is broke;

Yet hypocrite fanatics cry,

I'm but an idol raised on high;

And once a weaver in our town,

A damned Cromwellian, knocked me down.

I lay a prisoner twenty years,

And then the jovial cavaliers

To their old post restored all three -

I mean the church, the king, and me.