A loaf of bread, a lofty hill; A wasp, a cruel leopard; And specks of salt as bright to see As lambkins to a shepherd. SONG O for a moon to light me home! O for a lanthorn green! For those sweet stars the Pleiades, That glitter in the darkling trees; O for a lovelorn taper! O For a lanthorn green! O for a frock of tartan! O for clear, wild grey eyes! For fingers light as violets, 'Neath branches that the blackbird frets; O for a thistly meadow! O For clear, wild grey eyes! O for a heart like almond boughs! O for sweet thoughts like rain! O for first-love like fields of grey Shut April-buds at break of day! O for a sleep like music! Dreams still as rain! I SAW THREE WITCHES I saw three witches That bowed down like barley, And straddled their brooms 'neath a louring sky, And, mounting a storm-cloud, Aloft on its margin, Stood black in the silver as up they did fly. I saw three witches That mocked the poor sparrows They carried in cages of wicker along, Till a hawk from his eyrie Swooped down like an arrow, Smote on the cages, and ended their song. I saw three witches That sailed in a shallop, All turning their heads with a snickering smile, Till a bank of green osiers Concealed their grim faces, Though I heard them lamenting for many a mile. I saw three witches Asleep in a valley, Their heads in a row, like stones in a flood, Till the moon, creeping upward, Looked white through the valley, And turned them to bushes in bright scarlet bud. THE SILVER PENNY "Sailorman, I'll give to you My bright silver penny, If out to sea you'll sail me And my dear sister Jenny." "Get in, young sir, I'll sail ye And your dear sister Jenny, But pay she shall her golden locks Instead of your penny." They sail away, they sail away, O fierce the winds blew! The foam flew in clouds, And dark the night grew! And all the wild sea-water Climbed steep into the boat; Back to the shore again Sail they will not. Drowned is the sailorman, Drowned is sweet Jenny, And drowned in the deep sea A bright silver penny. THE RAINBOW I saw the lovely arch Of Rainbow span the sky, The gold sun burning As the rain swept by. In bright-ringed solitude The showery foliage shone One lovely moment, And the Bow was gone. THE FAIRIES DANCING