The Lady of the Rye

I searched for a virgin bloom to pluck
And a fair maid caught my eye
From the harvest field she smiled at me
The Lady of the Rye

She said “Sir, you never will catch me,”
“M’girl, be sure I’ll try.”
And she vanished amongst the cornstalks
The Lady of the Rye

I chased her into the golden corn
Felt coldness pass me by
And she laughed at my confusion
The Lady of the Rye

They found me frozen in those cornstalks
Gazing at the noonday sky
But my soul still seeks in harvest fields
My Lady of the Rye

—–

This story is about the Roggenmuhme – which I think literally translates to ‘Lady of the Rye’ – a spirit who steals away children who search for flowers amongst the tall grains. Flower-picking, as I suspect you’ve guessed, was only metaphorically what my narrator was after.