Longlegs--he yelled "Coo-ee!" And all across the combe Shrill and shrill it rang--rang through The clear green gloom. Fairies there were a-spinning, And a white tree-maid Lifted her eyes, and listened In her rain-sweet glade. Bunnie to bunnie stamped; old Wat Chin-deep in bracken sate; A throstle piped, "I'm by, I'm by!" Clear to his timid mate. And there was Longlegs straddling, And hearkening was he, To distant Echo thrilling back A thin "Coo-ee!" [Illustration] [Illustration] THE MERMAIDS Sand, sand; hills of sand; And the wind where nothing is Green and sweet of the land; No grass, no trees, No bird, no butterfly, But hills, hills of sand, And a burning sky. Sea, sea, mounds of the sea, Hollow, and dark, and blue, Flashing incessantly The whole sea through; No flower, no jutting root, Only the floor of the sea, With foam afloat. Blow, blow, winding shells; And the watery fish, Deaf to the hidden bells, In the water splash; No streaming gold, no eyes, Watching along the waves, But far-blown shells, faint bells, From the darkling caves. [Illustration] THE LITTLE CREATURE [Illustration] Twinkum, twankum, twirlum and twitch My great grandam--She was a Witch. Mouse in wainscot, Saint in niche-- My great grandam--She was a Witch; Deadly nightshade flowers in a ditch-- My great grandam--She was a Witch; Long though the shroud it grows stitch by stitch-- My great grandam--She was a Witch; Wean your weakling before you breech-- My great grandam--She was a Witch; The fattest pig's but a double flitch-- My great grandam--She was a Witch; Nightjars rattle, owls scritch-- My great grandam--She was a Witch. Pretty and small, A mere nothing at all, Pinned up sharp in the ghost of a shawl, She'd straddle her down to the kirkyard wall, And mutter and whisper and call; and call-- And--call. Red blood out and black blood in, My Nannie says I'm a child of sin-- How did I choose me my witchcraft kin! Know I as soon as dark's dreams begin Snared is my heart in a nightmare's gin; Never from terror I out may win; So dawn and dusk I pine, peak, thin, Scarcely beknowing t'other from which-- My great grandam--She was a Witch. SAM [Illustration]