Little Anna Poem by Joseph Skipsey

LITTLE Anna, young and fair,
How with heart a-dancing,
I descry her image rare,
O'er the footway glancing;
Ah, those locks of dusky hue,
Ah, those eyes that twinkle,
Now I laugh their sheen to view,
Now my tears down trinkle.

Chorus—Well-a-way, night and day,
I must sigh nor can a
Youth once view her charms, nor
rue
The peerless charms of Anna!

When I see her bonny blink,
I'm upraised to heaven;
When upon her ways I think,
From myself I'm driven
Not a bit of use am I,
Save with arms a-kimbo,
Thus to sit and thus to sigh,
A very wretch in limbo.

Chorus—Well-a-way, etc.

Up, from tossing, to and fro,
Bite or sup unheeded,
Up from bed to work I go,
Long before 'tis needed;
But a-pit, love a-smit,
Do all I can do, now,
Still a-wry the pick will fly,
And no coal will hew, now.

Chorus—Well-a-way, etc.

Can it be her voice I hear,
When my pick is swinging?
When her tongue attracts the ear
Golden bells are ringing;
Do I dream? or isn't her e'en
Yonder nook adorning?
Blacker than the coal, their sheen
Mocks the coal a burning!

Chorus—Well-a-way, etc.

Ah those locks and ah, those eyes,
Ah, the rest they've broken;
But in vain their victim tries―
Love can ne'er be spoken;
Man may fathom ocean—say
The reason of its motion;
But love's magic never! nay
'Tis deeper than the ocean.

Chorus—Well-a-way, etc,