The Stolen Child

    Of Sleuth Wood in the lake，

    There lies a leafy island

    Where flapping herons wake

    The drowsy² water-rats；

    There we‘ve hid our faery vats³，

    Full of berries

    And of reddest stolen cherries.

    Come away， O human child！

    To the waters and the wild

    With a faery， hand in hand，

    For the world‘s more full of weeping than you can understand.

    Where the wave of moonlight glosses⁴

    The dim grey sands with light，

    Far off by furthest Rosses

    We foot it all the night，

    Weaving olden dances，

    Mingling⁵ hands and mingling glances

    Till the moon has taken flight；

    To and fro we leap

    And chase the frothy bubbles，

    While the world is full of troubles

    And is anxious in its sleep.

    Come away， O human child！

    To the waters and the wild

    With a faery， hand in hand，

    For the world‘s more full of weeping than you can understand.

    Where the wandering water gushes⁶

    From the hills above Glen-Car，

    In pools among the rushes

    That scarce could bathe a star，

    We seek for slumbering⁷ trout⁸

    And whispering in their ears

    Give them unquiet dreams；

    Leaning softly out

    From ferns that drop their tears

    Over the young streams.

    Come away， O human child！

    To the waters and the wild

    With a faery， hand in hand，

    For the world‘s more full of weeping than you can understand.

    Away with us he‘s going，

    The solemn-eyed：

    He‘ll hear no more the lowing

    Of the calves⁹ on the warm hillside

    Or the kettle on the hob

    Sing peace into his breast，

    Or see the brown mice bob

    Round and round the oatmeal-chest.

    For he comes， the human child，

    To the waters and the wild

    With a faery， hand in hand，

    From a world more full of weeping than he can understand.