Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WITCHCRAFT, by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Our great-great-grandpapas had schooled Last Line: A captive and repentant witch. Subject(s): Witchcraft & Witches | ||||||||
OUR great-great-grandpapas had schooled Your fancies, Lita, were you born In days when Cotton Mather ruled And damask petticoats were worn! Your pretty ways, your mocking air, Had passed, mayhap, for Satan's wiles As fraught with danger, then and there, To you, as now to us your smiles. Why not? Were inquest to begin, The tokens are not far to seek: Itemthe dimple of your chin; Itemthat freckle on your cheek. Grace shield his simple soul from harm Who enters yon flirtation niche, Or trusts in whispered counter-charm, Alone with such a parlous witch! Your fan a wand is, in disguise; It conjures, and we straight are drawn Within a witches' Paradise Of music, germans, roses, lawn. So through the season, where you go, All else than Lita men forget: One needs no second-sight to know That sorcery is rampant yet. Now, since the bars no more await Fair maids that practise sable arts, Take heed, while I pronounce the fate Of her who thus ensnares men's hearts: In time you shall a wizard meet With spells more potent than your own, And you shall know your master, Sweet, And for these witcheries atone. For you at his behest shall wear A veil, and seek with him the church, And at the altar rail forswear The craft that left you in the lurch; But oft thereafter, musing long, With smile and sigh, and conscience-twitch, You shall too late confess the wrong A captive and repentant witch. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WILD WITCHES' BALL by JACK PRELUTSKY POT MACABRE by DONALD DAVIDSON CHANSON INNOCENTE: 2, FR. TULIPS by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS TWO WITCHES: 1. THE WITCH OF COOS by ROBERT FROST TWO WITCHES: 2. THE PAUPER WITCH OF GRAFTON by ROBERT FROST THE WITCH IN THE GLASS by SARAH MORGAN BRYAN PIATT THE DRUM: THE NARRATIVE OF THE DEMON OF TEDWORTH by EDITH SITWELL A MOTHER'S PICTURE by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN |
|