Ballad of a Country Tavern
By John Herlihy

All good people will lend their ear
Listen carefully to what they hear
In a quiet tavern after sundown
A full moon sat yonder as a crown
Guests puffed on corncob pipes
Suitors had females in their sights
Sound of laughter filled the room
Someone soon to become a groom
An old geezer played on a violin
Pipe smoke rose high over the din

The thief boldly invaded the night
Wishing to give everyone a fright
Honest men had sat down to dine
Had taken in hand a glass of wine
‘Twas a thief unprincipled as ever
The virtuous man’s tongue to sever
The thief shouted out many curses
Your lives, you dogs, or your purses
His echo sounded like a final psalm
Reading crooked lifelines in his palm

One sullen guest rose with a shiver
Seeming ready to stand and deliver
Standing back in the thief’s shadow
Every movement focused and slow
In his hand wrapped a silken cord
The thief held a sharpened sword
The corded rope glowed in the dark
The shining sword gave off spark
The moment froze like a magic spell
Ready to reveal what it had to tell

An unexpected thing happened then
That fully baffled the roomful of men
The cord wound round the thief’s neck
His eyes narrowed to a minute speck
His organs of sight now lost their lustre
As his attacker gathered his muster
Both sword and thief fell to the floor
The evil life he lived was now no more
The country tavern was quiet no longer
Songs of praise could be heard far yonder