A fair witch crept to a young man’s side,
And he kiss’d her and took her for his bride.
But a Shape came in at the dead of night,
And fill’d the room with snowy light.
And he saw how in his arms there lay
A thing more frightful than mouth may say.
And he rose in haste, and follow’d the Shape
Till morning crown’d an eastern cape.
And he girded himself, and follow’d still
When sunset sainted the western hill.
But, mocking and thwarting, clung to his side,
Weary day!—the foul Witch-Bride.
Credits
William Allingham was a 19th-century Irish poet best known for his lyrical ballads and his deep engagement with folklore and the supernatural. He was closely connected to the Pre-Raphaelite circle, counting Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Alfred Lord Tennyson among his friends. "The Witch-Bride" showcases his gift for compact, atmospheric verse, distilling a complete tale of enchantment and dread into just a few haunting stanzas.
