Pagett, That's a lovely bit. Thanks. It's the alliteration that's missing from modern "tradition style" songs I've always thought. The story is taken to be more important than the telling.
I never tell a talking animal what to do actually. It's the deep love of these old ballads that makes me comment on their quirks. When I sing them I find myself caught up in the sadness and suddenly crying at the vivid imagery. The desperate bargain that Polly makes with her parrot doesn't seem at all strange when you sing the ballad.
                                                   Joybelle