Never told Nursery Rhymes

Nine Wicked Brothers

It was nine wicked brothers, all promised a bride,

It was one lovely girl who just couldn't decide,

And poor fool she was,

and the poorer because,

she grew ill and died.

And the nine wicked brothers, so jealous they were,

that they never could let the girl's household keep her,

so they burgled her, dead,

put her into a shed,

Each was worse than a cur.

And the nine wicked brothers, they adored her much more,

since she had no more voice, which was her greatest flaw,

But they bickered and fought,

with the knives that they brought,

And their boots stomped the floor.

And the eldest declared 'I've a method for peace,

I've a plan that should make all this fighting to cease'

'We divide her nine times,

And we hide all our crimes,

and we each keep one piece.'

So they tore up her dress and they laid her out bare,

and her skin was so cold though it had been quite fair,

and her hands, feet, and ears,

and her eyes, still with tears,

All were cut out with care.

And the eldest of all of the brothers, his art,

his reward for his cleverness, he took out her heart,

and he kissed it and said,

'better that you were dead'

'than our brotherhood part'

And the nine wicked brothers departed that place,

and they let the shed burn as they quickened their pace,

Under each filthy coat,

over treasure to gloat,

a grin on each face.

But since that fine girl had been terribly ill,

the sickness had grown when her body went still,

and one by one, all,

of those brothers did fall,

and the flames had their fill.