Love Poems and Others/Cherry Robbers

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 throstles and a blackbird, robberlings
   Stained with red dye.

Under the haystack a girl stands laughing at me,
   With cherries hung round her ears—
Offering me her scarlet fruit: I will see
   If she has any tears.