While May bedecks the naked trees
With tassels and embroideries,
And many blue-eyed violets beam
Along the edges of the stream,
I hear a voice that seems to say,
Now near at hand, now far away,
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_.”
An incantation so serene,
So innocent, befits the scene:
There’s magic in that small bird’s note–
See, there he flits–the yellow-throat:
A living sunbeam, tipped with wings,
A spark of light that shines and sings
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_.”
You prophet with a pleasant name,
If out of Mary-land you came,
You know the way that thither goes
Where Mary’s lovely garden grows:
Fly swiftly back to her, I pray,
And try, to call her down this way,
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_!”
Tell her to leave her cockleshells,
And all her little silver bells
That blossom into melody,
And all her maids less fair than she.
She does not need these pretty things,
For everywhere she comes, she brings
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_!”
The woods are greening overhead,
And flowers adorn each mossy bed;
The waters babble as they run–
One thing is lacking, only one:
If Mary were but here to-day,
I would believe your charming lay,
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_!”
Along the shady road I look–
Who’s coming now across the brook?
A woodland maid, all robed in white–
The leaves dance round her with delight,
The stream laughs out beneath her feet–
Sing, merry bird, the charm’s complete,
“_Witchery–witchery–witchery_!”
(Henry Van Dyke)
More Poetry from Henry Van Dyke:
Henry Van Dyke Poems based on Topics: Light, Name, Birds, Charm- Vera (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
- The Builders (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
- The Toiling Of Felix (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
- Texas (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
- Who Follow The Flag (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
- Eight Echoes From The Poems Of August Angellier (Henry Van Dyke Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Light Poems, Name Poems, Birds Poems, Charm PoemsBased on Keywords: embroideries, bedecks, mary-land, cockleshells, yellow-throat