DOWN-ADOWN-DERRY by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE

Down-adown-derry,
Sweet Annie Maroon,
Gathering daisies
In the meadows of Doone,
Sees a white fairy
Skip buxom and free
Where the waters go brawling
In rills to the sea;
Singing down-adown-derry.

Down-adown-derry,
Sweet Annie Maroon
Through the green grasses
Peeps softly; and soon
Spies under green willows
A fairy whose song
Like the smallest of bubbles
Floats bobbing along;
Singing down-adown-derry.

Down-adown-derry
Her cheeks are like wine,
Her eyes in her wee face
Like water-sparks shine,
Her niminy fingers
Her sleek tresses preen,
The which in the combing
She peeps out between;
Singing down-adown-derry.

"Down-adown-derry,"
And shrill was her tune: --
"Come to my water-house,
Annie Maroon,
Come in your dimity,
Ribbon on head,
To wear siller seaweed
And coral instead;
Singing down-adown-derry."

"Down-adown-derry,
Lean fish of the sea,
Bring lanthorns for feasting
The gay FaÎrie;
'Tis sand for the dancing,
A music all sweet
In the water-green gloaming
For thistledown feet;
Singing down-adown-derry."

Down-adown-derry,
Sweet Annie Maroon
Looked large on the fairy
Curled wan as the moon;
And all the grey ripples
To the Mill racing by,
With harps and with timbrels
Did ringing reply;
Singing down-adown-derry.

"Down-adown-derry,"
Sang the Fairy of Doone,
Piercing the heart
Of sweet Annie Maroon;
And lo! when like roses
The clouds of the sun
Faded at dusk, gone
Was Annie Maroon;
Singing down-adown-derry.

Down-adown-derry,
The daisies are few;
Frost twinkles powd'ry
In haunts of the dew;
And only the robin,
Perched on a thorn,
Can comfort the heart
Of a father forlorn;
Singing down-adown-derry.

Down-adown-derry
Snow's on the air;
Ice where the lily
Bloomed waxen and fair;
He may call o'er the water,
Cry -- cry through the Mill,
But Annie Maroon, alas !
Answer ne'er will;
Singing down-adown-derry.

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