Ralph Hodgson

Here you will find the Poem The Gypsy Girl of poet Ralph Hodgson

The Gypsy Girl

'Come, try your skill, kind gentlemen, 
A penny for three tries!' 
Some threw and lost, some threw and won 
A ten-a-penny prize. 

She was a tawny gypsy girl, 
A girl of twenty years, 
I liked her for the lumps of gold 
That jingled from her ears; 

I liked the flaring yellow scarf 
Bound loose about her throat, 
I liked her showy purple gown 
And flashy velvet coat. 

A man came up, too loose of tongue, 
And said no good to her; 
She did not blush as Saxons do, 
Or turn upon the cur; 

She fawned and whined, 'Sweet gentleman, 
A penny for three tries!' 
- But oh, the den of wild things in 
The darkness of her eyes!