Though joyous laughter travels long

And beckons like a charming refrain

A door awaits—beware the song!

Enter, and none will exit sane

---

Traveler! do not disturb the glade

Wherein the lighted fairy rings lie

Broken light and sunless shade

Between which the wood-sprites fly

---

The waterfalls and golden fruit—

Fairyland blooms all year round

The timeless sounds of harp and flute

Eternity rests here, in daffodils crowned

---

Sprites have unearthly, ghastly charm

Travelers cannot forbear

Leaf-green eyes and dust-made wings

And flowers woven in their hair

---

Tigers lie among the leaves

Ready to spring, should a stranger come

In his mistress’s temple, among the trees

The Fairy Queen basks in the sun

---

‘Enchant and trap,’ is the river’s refrain

As the honeysuckle perfumes the mild breeze

‘Wipe their memories of their names

and leave them, mad, among the trees.’

---

Traveler! do not disturb the glade

Dream of fairyland, by all means

But should you walk through the shade

And into green, heavenly scenes

---

They play tricks from night to dawn

Be taken for a hundred years,

Come out, and not a day has gone

Fairies laugh at human tears

---

You must not heed the pixies and laughter

Ride now, onward, down the road

Ride, and none will follow after

Leave the heavenly, deadly abode

---

-26 May 2005