The Poetry Corner

The Turn Of The Road (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

By James Stephens

I was playing with my hoop along the road Just where the bushes are, when, suddenly, There came a shout., I ran away and stowed Myself beneath a bush, and watched to see What made the noise, and then, around the bend, I saw a woman running.She was old And wrinkle-faced, and had big teeth., The end Of her red shawl caught on a bush and rolled Right off her, and her hair fell down., Her face Was awful white, and both her eyes looked sick, And she was talking queer."O God of Grace!" Said she, "where is the child?" and flew back quick The way she came, and screamed, and shook her hands; ... Maybe she was a witch from foreign lands.