THE FAIRY DANCE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 May 1919, Page 43

THE FAIRY DANCE

See? yon band of Fairy Pipers, List the notes.. already..stealing ! - All the Fairies dance together, Then dart • off .-.across the green' In and out among the bracken, Circling round the iris flowers, Adding music to the music Of their band of Fairy Pipers By their laughter’s -'merry pealing As they dance across the green. 1

Sparkling wands they wave above them, And their feathers go a-nodding, Like the nodding in the breezes Of the sprays of meadow-sweet. Faster, faster comes the music Faster, faster dance the Fairies, Till one wonders how can music Ever play to fairy feet; T ill one wonders how can dancing Lance as fast as plays the music, Dance in time to fairy piping. See—Ah, no! ye cannot see them!

Mortal eyes must'long have gazed on Ocean spray in winter weather Making clouds for clouds to rest on ; Learnt to read the rainbow's secret. And the torrent’s wondrous message Seen the lightning’s angry flashing' Fall on sea, and plain, and mountain ; Long have watched the restless ocean In its never-ending tossing, And the angry tempests wrestling Thro’ the hills, and down the valleys Known the message of the snowflakes ’ When they signal in their falling ; Learnt to read the tender greetin°’ Of the Evening Star in summer, Of the rising Moon at harvest, And of Sunset on the ocean. Mortal eyes must learn the meaning Of these sights and signs and signals; Know the Spirits of the Twilight, That of Night-fall, aird-of Lay-break, And of Hail, and Rain, and Sunshine, Ere they see the Fairies dancing To the music of their pipers, Till they wonder how can music Ever play to fairy feet : Ere they see the Fairies dancing In the laughing silver moonlight With their feath’ry plumes a-nodding Like the sprays of meadow-sweet. ill they wonder how can dancing Lance as fast as plays the music, Lance in time to fairy piping.

List ! —Ah, no ! ye cannot hear them ! Cannot hear the Fairies piping, Piping ’neath the “Gentle Bushes,” Cannot see the Fairies dancing, Dancing in the silver moonlight. Cannot see them ?— Cannot hear them, Dancing in their Fairy Circle. Aengus MacLir, in Studies.