One boat above them drifted Apart from the flying bands, And an air-chief bent and lifted The children with mighty hands. The children wondered greatly, Three air-chiefs met them there, They were tall and grave and stately With bodies of purple air. A pearl light with misty shimmer Went dancing about them all, As the dyes of the moonbow glimmer On a trembling waterfall. The trail of the fleet to the far lands Was wavy along the night, And on through the sapphire starlands They followed the wake of light. "Look down, Aileen," said Rory, "The earth's as thin as a dream." It was lit by a sun-fire glory Outraying gleam on gleam. They saw through the dream-world under Its heart of rainbow flame Where the starry people wander; Like gods they went and came. The children looked without talking Till Roray spoke again, "Are those our folk who are walking Like little shadow men? "They don't see what is about them, They look like pigmies small, The world would be full without them And they think themselves so tall!" The magic bark went fleeting Like an eagle on and on; Till over its prow came beating The foam-light of the dawn. The children's dream grew fainter, Three air-chiefs still were there, But the sun the shadow painter Drew five on the misty air. The dream-light whirled bewild'ring, An air-chief said, "You know. You are living now, my children, Ten thousand years ago." They looked at themselves in the old light, And mourned the days of the new Where naught is but darkness or cold light, Till a bell came striking through. "We must go," said the wise young sages: It was five at dawn by the chimes, And they ran through a thousand ages From the old De Danaan Times. --August 15, 1896 The Palaces of the Sidhe Two small sweet lives together From dawn till the dew falls down, They danced over rock and heather Away from the dusty town. Dark eyes like stars set in pansies, Blue eyes like a hero's bold-- Their thoughts were all pearl-light fancies, Their hearts in the age of gold. They crooned o'er many a fable And longed for the bright-capped elves, The faery folk who are able To make us faery ourselves. A hush on the children stealing They stood there hand in hand, For the elfin chimes were pealing Aloud in the underland. And over the grey rock sliding, A fiery colour ran, And out of its thickness gliding The twinkling mist of a man-- To-day for the children had fled to An ancient yesterday, And the rill from its tunnelled bed too Had turned another way. Then down through an open hollow The old man led with a smile: "Come, star-hearts, my children, follow To the elfin land awhile."