The espalier | Project Gutenberg

WHITE MAGIC

Young man, be warned by me,

And shun the hour

When the full moon has power

To sway men like the sea.

I with my love kept tryst

One moonlight night.

Something did us affright—

And she went home unkissed.

We saw as clear as day

The things we knew;

Only the sky more blue

Seemed, and the grass grown grey.

Round us the orchard trees

Like spirits stood—

When she threw back her hood,

She looked like one of these;

So blanched the face I knew

It seemed estranged:

Its moonlight aspect changed

My eager blood to dew.

Disheartened, we returned;

Nor met again.

I have grown old since then,

But I have never learned

By what mysterious art

The moonlight thieves

Colour from the young leaves,

And passion from the heart.