The Elf

Nobody knew of you

Till they heard you knock-

Heard your tiny whisper

Breathing at the lock.

Your bright elf-eyes

Peeped through the crack:

We could not leave you standing,

We could not turn you back!

Only a brief parley-

You waiting on the sill-

We flung the door wide open,

We let you have your will!

Confidently, quietly-

Like a king in disguise-

Looking very lordly,

Looking very wise-

You crossed the threshold

As if it were your own;

You sat yourself down

As if on a throne;

And we bowed before you,

Brought you all we had;

Laid it at your feet

Willingly and glad... .

Our bins are empty

That once were full;

The grain is gone,

The linen and the wool.

The spinning we slack,

The loom we leave;

The pattern, half woven,

We shall not weave.

But what do we mind,

Who have purple to wear

Fashioned from fire,

Shaped from the air?

We have coffers and chests

Of hopes without measure:

Bundles of dreams,

Storerooms of pleasure;

Gold heaped up

And jewels dug deep,

That dragons guard

And trolls safe-keep.

We feed upon foam,

Upon lightsome wishes,

From silver and crystal

Of fairy dishes;

From fairy flagons

Of ancient mirth.

Marsh fires, witch fires

Dance on our hearth.

There is flicker of wings

And flicker of flame,

Musical voices

Calling our name. . ..

You have put a charm

On every room-

On bed and bench,

On shovel and broom-

The grass is greener,

The sun more bright,

And a star hangs over

The roof all night!

We have forgotten

What we used to know;

We must stay where you stay,

Go where you go.

Our olden lives

We shall live no more-

We have let magic

In through the door!