 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
IN FAIRY-LAND.
A little knight and little maid
Met on the rim of Fairy-Land;
A rippling stream betwixt them played;
The little knight reached out his hand,
Met on the rim of Fairy-Land;
A rippling stream betwixt them played;
The little knight reached out his hand,
And said, “Now may I cross to you,
Or will you come across to me?”
Out spoke the little maiden true:
“Sir Knight, nor this nor that can be:
Or will you come across to me?”
Out spoke the little maiden true:
“Sir Knight, nor this nor that can be:
“For I am here white flowers to sow,
That little maidens far behind,
Or wandering on the plains below,
Their pathway up the hill may find.
That little maidens far behind,
Or wandering on the plains below,
Their pathway up the hill may find.
“And you are there good work to do;
To clear the brambles from the way,
That little knights who follow you
May not upon the mountains stray.
To clear the brambles from the way,
That little knights who follow you
May not upon the mountains stray.
“But see! the stream, as up we climb,
Is narrowing to a rivulet.
Hark! airy bells above us chime,
And nearer every hour we get.
Is narrowing to a rivulet.
Hark! airy bells above us chime,
And nearer every hour we get.
156
“Up where the fountain falls in gold
It lies—the cool, sweet Fairy-Land,
Where child-hearts never can grow old;
And we will walk there, hand in hand.
It lies—the cool, sweet Fairy-Land,
Where child-hearts never can grow old;
And we will walk there, hand in hand.
“And in that country strange and blest,
We'll find some lovely work to do
For many an earth-bewildered guest,—
For wearier folk than I or you.
We'll find some lovely work to do
For many an earth-bewildered guest,—
For wearier folk than I or you.
“And upward, upward as we go,
The fairy-secret we shall guess—
The secret that we almost know—
Of living other hearts to bless.
The fairy-secret we shall guess—
The secret that we almost know—
Of living other hearts to bless.
“Sweet voices call us through the air;
New languages we understand.
Is this our own world, grown so fair?
Sir Knight, we are in Fairy-Land!”
New languages we understand.
Is this our own world, grown so fair?
Sir Knight, we are in Fairy-Land!”
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |