Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WITCHES' JOYS, by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When night winds rave Last Line: Shame our wild revelries! Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac Subject(s): Witchcraft & Witches | ||||||||
A RHAPSODY MOST PLEASANT AND MERRY. WHEN night winds rave O'er the fresh scooped grave, And the dead therein that lie, Glare upward to the sky; When gibbering imps sit down, To feast on lord or clown, And tear the shroud away From their lithe and pallid prey; Then clustering close, how grim They munch each withered limb! Or quarrel for dainty rare, The lip of lady fair -- The tongue of high-born dame, That never would defame, And was of scandal free As any mute could be! Or suck the tintless cheek Of maiden mild and meek; And when in revel rout They kick peeled skulls about, And shout in maddest mirth -- "These dull toys awed the earth!" Oh then, oh then, oh then, We hurry forth amian; For with such eldritch cries, Begin our revelries! II. When the murderer's blanched corse Swings with a sighing hoarse From gibbet and from chain, As the bat sucks out his brain, And the owlet pecks his eyes, And the wild fox gnaws his thighs; While the raven croaks with glee, Lord of the dead man's tree; And rock on that green skull, With sated look and dull, In gloomy pride looks o'er The waste and wildered moor, And dreams some other day Shall bring him fresher prey; When over bog and fen, To lure wayfaring men, Malicious spirits trail A ground-fire thin and pale, Which the belated wight Pursues the livelong night, Till in the treacherous ground An unmade grave is found, -- Oh then, oh then, oh then, We hurry forth amain, Ha! ha! his feeble cries Begin our revelries. III. When the spirits of the North, Hurl howling tempests forth; When seas of lightning flare, And thunders choke the air; When the ocean starts to life, To madness, horror, strife, And the goodly bark breaks up, Like ungirded drinking cup, And each stately mast is split In some rude thunder-fit; And like feather on the foam, Float shattered plank and boom; When, midst the tempest's roar, Pale listeners on the shore Hear the curse and shriek of men, As they sink and rise again On the gurley billow's back, And their strong broad breast-bones crack On the iron-ribbed coast, As back to hell they're toss'd, Oh then, oh then, oh then, We hurry forth again! For amid such lusty cries, Begin our revelries. IV. When aged parents flee The noble wreck to see, And mark their sons roll in Through foam and thundering din, All mottled black and blue -- Their icy lips cut through In the agony of death, While drifting on their path; When gentle maidens stand Upon the wreck-rich strand, And every labouring wave That doth their small feet lave, Gives them a ghastly lover To wring their white hands over, And tear their spray-wet hair In the madness of despair; -- Oh then, oh then, oh then, We hurry home amain; For their heart-piercing cries, Shame our wild revelries! | 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 JEANIE MORRISON by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL |
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