"O witches nine, ye dreadful nine, O witches seven and three! Whence come these wondrous things that I this Christmas morning see?" But straight, as in a clap, when she of Christmas says the word, Here is the snow, and there the sun, but never bloom nor bird; Nor warbling flame, nor gleaming-rope of amethyst there shows, Nor bunches of green emeralds, nor belfry, well, and rose, Nor cloud of gold, nor cherry-tree, nor witch in brindle shawl, But like a dream that vanishes, so vanished were they all. When Lucy sees, and only sees three crows upon a bough, And earthly twigs, and bushes hidden white in driven snow, Then "O!" said Lucy, "three times three is nine--I plainly see Some witch has been a-walking in the fields in front of me." THE WORLD OF DREAM BEWARE! An ominous bird sang from its branch "Beware, O Wanderer! Night 'mid her flowers of glamourie spilled Draws swiftly near: "Night with her darkened caravans, Piled deep with silver and myrrh, Draws from the portals of the East, O Wanderer near. "Night who walks plumèd through the fields Of stars that strangely stir-- Smitten to fire by the sandals of him Who walks with her." [Illustration: ] SOME ONE [Illustration] Some one came knocking At my wee, small door; Some one came knocking, I'm sure--sure--sure; I listened, I opened, I looked to left and right, But nought there was a-stirring In the still dark night; Only the busy beetle Tap-tapping in the wall, Only from the forest The screech-owl's call, Only the cricket whistling While the dewdrops fall, So I know not who came knocking, At all, at all, at all. MUSIC [Illustration] When music sounds, gone is the earth I know, And all her lovely things even lovelier grow; Her flowers in vision flame, her forest trees Lift burdened branches, stilled with ecstasies. When music sounds, out of the water rise Naiads whose beauty dims my waking eyes, Rapt in strange dreams burns each enchanted face, With solemn echoing stirs their dwelling-place. When music sounds, all that I was I am Ere to this haunt of brooding dust I came; While from Time's woods break into distant song The swift-winged hours, as I haste along. HAUNTED [Illustration] The rabbit in his burrow keeps No guarded watch, in peace he sleeps; The wolf that howls in challenging night Cowers to her lair at morning light; The simplest bird entwines a nest Where she may lean her lovely breast, Couched in the silence of the bough. But thou, O man, what rest hast thou?