The Ugly Princess

My parents bow, and lead them forth,

For all the crowd to see—

Ah well! the people might not care

To cheer a dwarf like me.

They little know how I could love,

How I could plan and toil,

To swell those drudges' scanty gains,

Their mites of rye and oil.

They little know what dreams have been

My playmates, night and day;

Of equal kindness, helpful care,

A mother's perfect sway.

Now earth to earth in convent walls,

To earth in churchyard sod:

I was not good enough for man,

And so am given to God.

Bertrich in the Eifel, 1851.