The+Maids+of+Elfin-Mere

** The Maids of Elfin-Mere **

//William Allingham// (1824 - 1889)

‘Twas when the spinning-room was here.

Came Three Damsels, clothed in white,

With their spindles every night;

Two and one, and Three fair Maidens,

Spinning to a pulsing cadence,

Singing songs of Elfin-Mere;

Till the eleventh hour was toll’d,

Then departed through the wold.

// Years ago, and years ago; //

// And the tall reeds sigh as the wind doth blow. //

Three white Lilies, calm and clear,

And they were loved by every one;

Most of all, the Pastor’s Son,

Listening to their gentle singing,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Felt his heart go from him, clinging

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Round these Maids of Elfin-Mere;

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Sued each night to make them stay,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Sadden’d when they went away.

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// Years ago, and years ago; //

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// And the tall reeds sigh as the wind doth blow. //

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Hands that shook with love and fear

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Dared put back the village clock, –

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Flew the spindle, turn’d the rock,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Flow’d the song with subtle rounding,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Till the false “eleven” was sounding;

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Then these Maids of Elfin-Mere

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Swiftly, softly, left the room,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Like three doves on snowy plume.

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// Years ago, and years ago; //

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// And the tall reeds sigh as the wind doth blow. //

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">One that night who wander’d near

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Heard lamentings by the shore,

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Saw at dawn three stains of gore

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">In the waters fade and dwindle.

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Never more with song and spindle

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Saw we Maids of Elfin-Mere.

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">The Pastor’s Son did pine and die;

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Because true love should never lie.

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// Years ago, and years ago; //

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia,serif; vertical-align: baseline;">// And the tall reeds sigh as the wind doth blow. //