If I Should Be a Queen

I’M saying every day
’If I should be a Queen to-morrow
I’d do this way,’ —
And so I deck a little
If it be I wake a Bourbon
None on me bend supercilious
With ‘This was she
Begged in the market place
Yesterday.’
Court is a stately place
I’ve heard men say,
So I loop my apron against the majesty
With bright pins of buttercup —
That not too plain
Rank overtake me —
And perch my tongue
On twigs of singing, rather high,
But this might be my brief term
To qualify, —
Put from my simple speech
All plain word,
Take other accents
As such I heard —
Though but for the cricket, just,
And but for the bee
Not in all the meadow
One accost me.
Better be ready
Than did next morn
Meet me in Arragon
My old gown on,
And the surprised air
Rustics wear
Summoned unexpectedly
To Exeter.