Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

Poems of Fancy: II. Fairies: Elves: Sprites

The Flitting of the Fairies

Jane Barlow (1857–1917)

FOR this holds true—too true, alas!

The sky that eve was clear as glass,

Yet no man saw the Faeries pass

Where azure pathways glisten;

And true it is—too true, ay me—

That nevermore on lawn or lea

Shall mortal man a Faery see,

Though long he look and listen.

Only the twilit woods among

A wild-winged breeze hath sometimes flung

Dim echoes borne from strains soft sung

Beyond sky-reaches hollow;

Still further, fainter up the height,

Receding past the deep-zoned night—

Far chant of Fays who lead that flight,

Faint call of Fays who follow.