I have been at the crossroads now
All the time without leaving
Since the afternoon of Shrove Tuesday.
They brought me the blessed ashes
Wrapped in tissue paper.
When I woke on Palm Sunday
The palm branches had been left
On the damp stones of the stile.
I heard them at Easter
Across the ploughed fields,
And the little girls came and stood
A short way off, to show me
Their embroidered dancing costumes.
Now it is a long time to the Feast of the Assumption,
When my mother will come
To collect me in her pony and trap
And we will go calling on all our cousins
And take tea and sherry in their parlours.