Child Ballad

Ballads are said to be our best poetry because everything is condensed to its essence with no extraneous matter. However, I often find that it's condensed past the point of comprehension, as in this ballad where I can't tell if it's the step-mother or the step-daughter who gets enchanted. It's short, so it's worth reading once.

Of all the cautionary tales about young women running off with inappropriate men, this is one of the few that is appropriate for feminist daughters to read.

I hate the story of this ballad, but I'm also somewhat drawn to the tune. One of the problems of popular music.