by
James Stephens
A little Fairy in a tree Wrinkled his wee face at me; And he sang a song of joy All about a little boy, Who upon a winter night, On a midnight long ago, Had een rapt away from sight Of the world and all its woe; Rapt away, Snapt away, To a place where children play In the sunlight all the day. Where the winter is forbidden, Where no child may older grow, Where a flower is never hidden Underneath a pall of snow; Dancing gaily, Free from sorrow, Under dancing summer skies, Where no grim mysterious morrow Ever comes to terrorize. This I told a priest and he Spoke a word of mystery; And with candle, ook and bell, Tolling Latin like a knell Ruthlessly, From the tree, Sprinkling holy water round, He drove the Fairy down to hell, There in torment to be bound. So the tree is withered and There is sorrow on the land: ut the devils milder grow Dancing gay Every day In that kinder land below: There the devils dance for joy And love that little wrinkled boy.