Trouble Came to the Turnip

When trouble came to the village,

I put my love in the cabbage-cart

and we rode, wrapped in cabbage,

to the capital.

When trouble came to the capital,

I put my love in the sewage pipe,

and we swam, wrapped in sewage,

to the sea.

When trouble came to the sea,

I put my love inside a fish

and we flitted, wrapped in fish,

to the island.

When trouble came to the island,

I put my love on a pirate ship

and we squirmed, wrapped in pirate,

to the nunnery.

When trouble came to the nunnery,

I put my love inside a prayer book

and we repented, wrapped in prayer,

to the prison.

When trouble came to the prison,

I put my love on a spoon

and we balanced, wrapped in mirror,

to the soup.

When trouble came to the soup,

I put my love inside a stranger

and we gritted, wrapped in mouth

to the madhouse.

When trouble came to the madhouse,

I put my love on a feather

and we flapped, wrapped in feather,

to the fair.

When trouble came to the fair,

I put my love inside a rat,

and we plagued, wrapped in rat,

to the village.

When trouble came to the village,

I put my love in the turnip-lorry

and we sneaked, wrapped in turnip,

a hurried kiss.

CAROLINE BIRD