The Stolen Child

Where dips the rocky highland

Of Slueth Wood in the lake,

There lies a leafy island

Where flapping herons wake

The drowsey water rats;

There we've hif our faery vats

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 he can understand

Where the wave of moonlight glosses

The dim grey sands with light

Far off by furthest rosses

We foot it all the night,

Weaving olden dances

Mingling 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 is more full of weeping than he can understand

Where the wandering water gushes

From the hills above Glen-Car,

In pools amoung the rushes

That scarce could bathe a star,

We seek the sumblering trout

And wispering 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 worlds more full of weeping than yee can understand

Away with us he's going ,

The solemn-eyed:

He'll hear no more the lowing

Of the calves 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

For a world more full of weeping than he can understand