Witchwork

Undiné and all her troop

Are out to-night; the tides are high;

Like spray far thrown across the moon,

The clouds go sailing through the sky.

The showers sweep down and shroud the world

On darkling rainbows skim afar;

The brooks burst up beside the way,

And great winds strip some naked star,—

Great winds, mad winds, winds of March,

That, streaming from the void and vast,

Make mortals feel the impotence

Of atoms borne before the blast.

But Ariel holds them in his leash;

All the Wild Ladies follow him;

The great Ghandarvas blow their tunes

From silver peaks and valleys dim;

Witch and warlock, imps and elves,

The urchins of the misty dale,

And echoes mocking all the stir,

Ride down the long gust of the gale!

Hark! do you catch the Banshee's cry?

That is the hammering trolls you hear!

Turn not too swiftly, lest you start

The Lurley singing in your ear!