Cannibal Street

"BUY, who'll buy," the pedlar sings,

"Bones of beggars, loins of kings,

Ribs of murder, haunch of hate,

And Beauty's head on a butcher's plate!"

Hook by hook, on steaming stalls,

The hero hangs, the harlot sprawls;

For Helen's flesh, in such a street,

Is only a kind of dearer meat.

"Buy, who'll buy," the pedlar begs,

"Angel-wings and lady-legs,

Tender bits and dainty parts—

Buy, who'll buy my skewered hearts?"

Buy, who'll buy? The cleavers fall,

The dead men creak, the live men call,

And I (God save me) bargained there,

Paid my pennies and ate my share.