English Poetry. Elinor Wylie. Curious Circumstance. Элинор Уайли.

Curious Circumstance


The sailorman’s child 
And the girl of the witch-- 
They can’t be defiled 
By touching pitch.

The sailorman’s son 
Had a ship for a nursery; 
The other one 
Was baptised by sorcery.

Although he’s shipped 
To the Persian Gulf, her 
Body’s been dipped 
In burning sulphur.

Elinor Wylie’s other poems: