Cannibal Street

'BUY, who'll buy,' the pedlar sings, 'Bones of beggars, loins of kings, Ribs of murder, haunch of hate, And Beauty's head on a butcher's plate!' Hook by hook, on steaming stalls, The hero hangs, the harlot sprawls; For Helen's flesh, in such a street, Is only a kind of dearer meat. 'Buy, who'll buy,' the pedlar begs, 'Angel-wings and lady-legs, Tender bits and dainty parts— Buy, who'll buy my skewered hearts?' Buy, who'll buy? The cleavers fall, The dead men creak, the live men call, And I (God save me) bargained there, Paid my pennies and ate my share.