Witch Dance

Between the windy, swirling fire

and all the stillness of the moon

sweet witch, you danced at my desire

turning some weird and lovely rune

As in the sabbat's ancient round

with strange and subtle you went

and toward the heavens and toward the ground

your steeple-shapen hat was bent

as in the sabbath's ancient round

and toward the heavens and toward the ground

Upon the earth your paces wrought

a circle such as magicians made

and still some hidden thing you sought

with hands desirous, half afraid

Your supple youth and loveliness

a glamor left upon the air

whether a stronger magic there

What darkling and demonian lord

in fear or triumph, did you call?

Ah! Was it then that you implored

with secret signs equivocal

Your fingers, on the smoke and flame

moved in the mysterious conjuring

you seemed to call a silent name

and lifted like an outstretched wing.

Sweet witch you conjured forth my heart

to answer always at you will!

like merlin, in some place apart

it lies enthralled and captive still.