Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ERL-KING, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE Poet's Biography First Line: Who rides so late through the midnight blast? Last Line: But alack! In his arms the child lay dead! Subject(s): Death - Children; Fairies; Halloween; Supernatural; Death - Babies; Elves | ||||||||
Who rides so late through the midnight blast? 'T is a father spurs on with his child full fast; He gathers the boy well into his arm, He clasps him close and he keeps him warm. "My son, why thus to my arm dost cling?"-- "Father, dost thou not see the elfin-king? The elfin-king with his crown and train!" "My son, 't is a streak of the misty rain!" "Come hither, thou darling, come, go with me! Fine games I know that I'll play with thee; Flowers many and bright do my kingdoms hold, My mother has many a robe of gold." "O father, dear father, and dost thou not hear What the elfin-king whispers so low in mine ear?"-- "Calm, calm thee, my boy, it is only the breeze, As it rustles the withered leaves under the trees." "Wilt thou go, bonny boy, wilt though go with me? My daughters shall wait on thee daintily; My daughters around thee in dance shall sweep, And rock thee and kiss thee and sing thee to sleep." "O father, dear father, and dost thou not mark The elf-king's daughters move by in the dark?"-- "I see it, my child; but it is not they, 'T is the old willow nodding its head so gray." "I love thee! thy beauty it charms me so; And I'll take thee by force, if thou wilt not go!" "O father, dear father, he's grasping me,-- My heart is as cold as cold can be!" The father rides swiftly,--with terror he gasps,-- The sobbing child in his arms he clasps; He reaches the castle with spurring and dread; But alack! in his arms the child lay dead! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAERY FOREST by SARA TEASDALE THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE FAIRIES by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE FAIRY CHILD by JOHN ANSTER THE FORSAKEN MERMAN by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE LITTLE ELF-MAN by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS TAM O' SHANTER by ROBERT BURNS A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET A SONG FROM THE COPTIC by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE FAUST: SCENE 1. PROLOGUE IN HEAVEN by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE |
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