Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/74

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THE WHITE WITCH
55


“The woman is a witch,” I cried,
“So cast her off from you”;
“She'll be my wife to-day,” he said,
“Be careful what you do!”

“The woman is a witch,” I said;
He laughed both loud and long:
She laid her arms about his neck,
Her laugh was like a song.

“The woman is a witch,” he mocked,
And laughed both long and loud;
She bent her head upon his breast,
Her hair was like a cloud.

I said, “See blood upon her mouth
And on each finger-tip!”
He said, “I see a pretty maid,
A rose upon her lip.”

He took her slender hand in his
To kiss the stain away—
Oh, well she cast her spell on him,
What could I do but pray?

“May Heaven guard your house to-night!”
I whisper as I go,
“For you have won a witch for bride.
And married for your woe.”