The Poetry Corner

The Spell

By Madison Julius Cawein

"We have the receipt of fern seed: we walk invisible." - HENRY IV And we have met but twice or thrice! - Three times enough to make me love! - I praised your hair once; then your glove; Your eyes; your gown; - you were like ice; And yet this might suffice, my love, And yet this might suffice. St. John hath told me what to do: To search and find the ferns that grow The fern seed that the faeries know; Then sprinkle fern seed in my shoe, And haunt the steps of you, my dear, And haunt the steps of you. You'll see the poppy pods dip here; The blow-ball of the thistle slip, And no wind breathing - but my lip Next to your anxious cheek and ear, To tell you I am near, my love, To tell you I am near. On wood-ways I shall tread your gown - You'll know it is no brier! - then I'll whisper words of love again, And smile to see your quick face frown: And then I'll kiss it down, my dear, And then I'll kiss it down. And when at home you read or knit, - Who'll know it was my hands that blotted The page? - or all your needles knotted? When in your rage you cry a bit: And loud I laugh at it, my love, And loud I laugh at it. The secrets that you say in prayer Right so I'll hear: and, when you sing, The name you speak; and whispering I'll bend and kiss your mouth and hair, And tell you I am there, my dear, And tell you I am there. Would it were true what people say! - Would I _could_ find that elfin seed! Then should I win your love, indeed, By being near you night and day - There is no other way, my love, There is no other way. Meantime the truth in this is said: It is my soul that follows you; It needs no fern seed in the shoe, - While in the heart love pulses red, To win you and to wed, my dear, To win you and to wed.