* THE CHARM *

When chafers drone their litany

And pray, “Oh, Father, grant that we

From airy-mouse delivered be,”

Go seek the charm.

Under the sky, when a star shoots,

Beneath an oak, when the owl hoots,

Gather ye simples, dig ye roots

For the rare charm.

That glassy ghost upon a thorn —

The raiment of a snake outworn —

Must backward through the dark be borne

To feed the charm.

A glow-worm — she whose gentle light

Glimmers green-gold through a blue night

Beside the churchyard aconite —

Shall help the charm.

One willow from the cradle take

Where a boy baby lies awake,

And splinters off a coffin break

To build the charm.

A tarnished silver chalice bring,

Dead gossips gave at christening,

And dip the moonlight from a spring

To crown the charm.

This much, God wot, a child might do,

Yet all must fail if haply you

Lack a child’ s faith, so trusting, true,

To bless the charm.

Many the spells of high degree

And fruitful happiness I see

All lost, for faith to set them free

And work the charm.