<h3 id="The_Little_Man_in_Green">The Little Man in Green</h3>
<p>’TWAS a little man in green,<br/>
And he sat upon a stone;<br/>
And he sat there all alone,<br/>
Whispering.</p>
<p>“One and two,” so whispered he.<br/>
(’Twas an ancient man and hoar)<br/>
“One and two,” and then no more—<br/>
Never, “Three”.</p>
<p>Hawthorn trees were quick with May—<br/>
“Sir,” said I, “Good-day to you”!<br/>
But he counted. “One and two”<br/>
In strange way.</p>
<p>Fool I was—oh, fool was I<br/>
(Who should know the ways of them!)<br/>
That I touched his cloak’s green hem,<br/>
Passing by.</p>
<p>I was fey with spring and mirth—<br/>
Speaking him without a thought—<br/>
Now is joy a thing forgot<br/>
On the earth.</p>
<p>Ere the sweet thorn-buds were through,<br/>
Wife and child doom-stricken lay,<br/>
Cold as winter, white as spray—<br/>
<i>“One and two!”</i></p>
<!-- Page 115 -->
<p>Now I seek eternally<br/>
That grim Counter of the fen,<br/>
Praying he may count again—<br/>
Counting, “Three”.</p>
<blockquote>* In the bad chance of a meeting with the “Little People” the
mortal is cautioned not to speak to them nor to touch, but to pass
by quickly with averted eye.—Old tale.</blockquote>
<!-- Page 116 -->
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.