I

Over knoll, through thicket’s veil,
Amidst glade, amidst briar,
Over FIELD, beyond the pale,
Through stream, through pyre,
I do roam through every sphere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the sprite queen,
To grace her orbs on the green:
The primroses tall her devotees are;
In their golden robes, spots afar;
Those are rubies, sprite’s delights,
In those freckles dwell their sights:
I must seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in each primrose’s ear.

YE mottled serpents with dual tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, remain unseen;
Newts and sightless serpents, do no wrong;
Approach not our sprite queen.

Philomel, with harmony,
Sing in our dulcet lullaby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby!
Never harm,
Nor spell nor charm,
Approach our lovely lady nigh;
So, good night, with lullaby.

Weaving spiders, venture not here;
Away, you long-legged weavers, away!
Beetles black, draw not near;
Worm nor snail, cause no dismay.

Philomel, with melody,
Sing in our sweet lullaby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby!
Never harm,
Nor spell nor charm,
Approach our lovely lady nigh;
So, good night, with lullaby.

COME unto these golden shores,
And then join hands:
Bowed once you have, and kissed,–
The wild waves silenced,–
Dance gracefully here and there;
And, sweet spirits, the refrain bear.
Hark, hark!
Bow, wow,
The watch-dogs bark:
Bow, wow.
Hark, hark! I hear
The strain of strutting chanticleer
Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow!

:: 11.27.2023 ::