The Spell

'We have the receipt of fern seed: we walk invisible.' -HENRY IV And we have met but twice or thrice!- Three times enough to make me love!- I praised your hair once; then your glove; Your eyes; your gown;-you were like ice; And yet this might suffice, my love, And yet this might suffice. St. John hath told me what to do: To search and find the ferns that grow The fern seed that the faeries know; Then sprinkle fern seed in my shoe, And haunt the steps of you, my dear, And haunt the steps of you. You'll see the poppy pods dip here; The blow-ball of the thistle slip, And no wind breathing-but my lip Next to your anxious cheek and ear, To tell you I am near, my love, To tell you I am near. On wood-ways I shall tread your gown- You'll know it is no brier!-then I'll whisper words of love again, And smile to see your quick face frown: And then I'll kiss it down, my dear, And then I'll kiss it down. And when at home you read or knit,- Who'll know it was my hands that blotted The page?-or all your needles knotted? When in your rage you cry a bit: And loud I laugh at it, my love, And loud I laugh at it. The secrets that you say in prayer Right so I'll hear: and, when you sing, The name you speak; and whispering I'll bend and kiss your mouth and hair, And tell you I am there, my dear, And tell you I am there. Would it were true what people say!- Would I could find that elfin seed! Then should I win your love, indeed, By being near you night and day- There is no other way, my love, There is no other way. Meantime the truth in this is said: It is my soul that follows you; It needs no fern seed in the shoe,- While in the heart love pulses red, To win you and to wed, my dear, To win you and to wed.