CHERRY ROBBERS

 

Under the long, dark boughs, like jewels red

In the hair of an Eastern girl

Shine strings of crimson cherries, as if had bled

Blood-drops beneath each curl.

 

Under the glistening cherries, with folded wings

Three dead birds lie:

Pale-breasted throttles and blackbird, robberlings

Stained with red dye.

 

Under the haystack a girl stands laughing at me, 

With cherries hung around her ears - 

Offering me her scarlet fruit: I will see

 If she has any tears.

​​

~ D.H. Lawrence (1906)