Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO CHILDREN: 4. THE FAIRY REALM, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO CHILDREN: 4. THE FAIRY REALM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, we smiled our silent pity when they mocked our faith as fond!
Last Line: And tonight we'll be a-dancing at a dazzling fairy ball!
Subject(s): Children; Fairies; Childhood; Elves


Oh, we smiled our silent pity when they mocked our faith as fond!
Well we knew the stately city past the bounding of beyond,
All its streets with sunshine glowing,
All its towers with banners flowing.
We were going, we were going to its jasper gates beyond!

There the mages flout at sages, and the knights-at-arms are there,
And the little Princess Wildrose, letting down her golden hair --
In the night of dreams and roses,
When her casement latch uncloses --
To the Prince the tale supposes climbs its shimmering like a stair.

There are flagons, there are dragons, there rings Merlin's mystic tune!
There are wizards, weirdsome lizards, and the gardens of the Moon;
Fairy kings in strange disguises
And such combats and surprises;
Harps and flowers and haunted bowers, magic cap and magic shoon!

There the centuried sleepers waken, spells encoil or set one free,
And the gold-leaved trees are shaken with a rune of mystery,
And forever and forever
Float fair sirens on the river,
Sing bright maidens by the river, spinning silks o' glamourie!

Oh, the blue sea that shimmers from a golden, golden shore,
And the jeweled state that glimmers through each pillared palace door!
Forest depths of glinting beryl
Whispering quests of daunting peril --
And, at night, the musicked dancing, whirling down each glassy floor!

How we smile to hear them saying there is no such land at all!
For the fairy steeds are neighing in each marble fairy stall --
Yes, the fairy steeds are prancing,
With their studded bridles glancing --
And tonight we'll be a-dancing at a dazzling fairy ball!





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