The Ballad of Coraline

I'd traveled far and traveled long

Heard many a story, tale, and song

I thought my heart was hard and strong

Till I met with Coraline

She'd hair like wheat and eyes like sky

Above and beyond in love was I

No longer could I my want deny

For my lovely Coraline

Her father a man of revenue

Her mother a lady good and true

Her smile it pierced my breast right through

Did my lovely Coraline

I told her of my love one day

For a moment nothing she did say

Then my lips she kissed as there I lay

With my lovely Coraline

We watched the movement of the moon

Forever would have been too soon

To let go of my heart's sweet boon

My one and only Coraline

With tears she sadly to me said

"Tomorrow I'm promised to be wed,"

And wept as though her heart was bled

O my lovely Coraline

Next day I saw her dressed in white

A sweet-faced laddie by her side

I ne'er saw a more painful sight

Than my leaving Coraline

I left town that very hour

A horror in my heart did tower

Life's sweetness in my mouth turned sour

With my losing Coraline

I made my way through the years' fond chase

And found a home in another place

Thinking sometimes the of the face

Of my lovely Coraline

I met and loved another lady fine

And was glad was I that she was mine

But all things fade in the stream of time

And I thought of Coraline

Years later I by chance did meet

A lady passing in the street

My poor heart then did skip a beat

For 'twas my only Coraline

Her shoulder I did shyly tap

With joy her arms around me wrapped

She said, "You'll come with me, mayhap?

And reacquaint with Coraline."

"My husband, rest his soul, did die,

And children three have he and I..."

With windy breath she then did sigh

My not-forgotten Coraline

"Your children as my own would take,

My joy again I would you make

If you would have me for love's sake,"

Said I to listening Coraline

We'd traveled far and traveled long

Heard many a story, tale, and song

And knew our hearts were soft but strong

She and I, my Coraline