The Princess and the Gipsies-Frances Oornford

THE PRINCESS AND THE GIPSIES

As I looked out May morning

I saw the tree-tops green ;

I said, 'My crown I will lay down

And love no more a queen.'

Then I tripped down my golden steps,

All in my silken gown,

And when I stood in the open wood

I met some gipsies brown.

'O gentle, gentle gipsies,

That roam the wide world through,

Because I hate my crown and state

Oh, let me come with you.

'My councillors are old and grey,

And sit in narrow chairs;

But you can hear the birds sing clear,

And your hearts are as light as theirs.'

'If you would come along with us,

Then you must count the cost;

For though in Spring the sweet birds sing,

In Winter comes the frost.

'Your ladies serve you all the day

With courtesy and care;

Your fine-shod feet they tread so neat;

But gipsies' feet go bare.

'You wash in water running warm

Through basins all of gold;

The streams where we roam have silvery foam,

But the streams - the streams are cold.

'And the battery - bread is bitter to taste,

While the sugary cakes they please-

Which will you choose, oh, which will you choose,

Which will you choose of these?

'For if you choose the mountain streams

And barley - bread to eat,

Your heart will be as free as the birds in the tree,

But the stones will cut your feet.

'The mud will spoil your silken gown,

And stain your insteps high;

The dogs in the farm will wish you harm,

And bark as you go by.

'And though your heart grow deep and gay,

And your heart grow wise and rich,

The cold will make your bones to ache,

And you will die in a ditch.'

'O gentle, gentle gipsies,

That roam the wide world through,

Although I praise your wandering ways,

I dare not come with you.'

I hung about their fingers brown

My ruby rings and chain,

And with my head as heavy as lead

I turned me back again.

As I went up the palace steps

I heard the gipsies laugh;

The birds of Spring so sweet did sing;

My heart it broke in half.

FRANCES OORNFORD

Summary: 'The Princess and the Gipsies' by Frances Cornford tells the story of a princess who, disillusioned with her royal life, decides to abandon her crown and meet some wandering gipsies in the open wood. She expresses her desire to join them, citing the carefree nature of their lives compared to the constraints of her royal position.

The gipsies, however, caution her about the challenges of their lifestyle. They mention the harsh realities of living in nature, with cold streams, bare feet, and the bitter taste of simple food. Despite the princess's admiration for their wandering ways, she hesitates and ultimately chooses to return to her palace.

As she ascends the palace steps, she hears the gipsies laugh, and the contrast between their carefree existence and her own burdensome royalty becomes painfully apparent. The poem captures the princess's moment of longing for freedom, the allure of a simpler life, and the ultimately sobering realization that the grass may not be greener on the other side.