| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 874. The Willis |
| | | By David Law Proudfit |
| |
| |
| THE WILLIS are out to-night, | |
| In the ghostly pale moonlight, | |
| With robes and faces white. | |
| |
| Swiftly they circle round, | |
| And make not any sound, | 5 |
| Nor footprint on the ground. | |
| |
| The forest is asleep; | |
| All things that fly or creep | |
| A death-like silence keep. | |
| |
| A fear is over all; | 10 |
| From spectral trees and tall | |
| The gathering night-dews fall. | |
| |
| Moveless are leaf and limb, | |
| While through the forest dim | |
| Slow glides a figure slim. | 15 |
| |
| A figure slim and fair, | |
| With loosened, streaming hair, | |
| Watching the Willis there! | |
| |
| “These are the ghosts,” she said, | |
| “Of hapless ones unwed, | 20 |
| Who loved and now are dead.” | |
| |
| Her hair was drenched with dew; | |
| The moonlight shimmered through, | |
| And showed its raven hue. | |
| |
| “Each one of these,” she cried, | 25 |
| “Or ever she was a bride, | |
| For love’s sake sinned and died.” | |
| |
| “I come,” she said, “I too; | |
| Ye are by one too few,” | |
| And joined the phantom crew. | 30 |
| |
| Swiftly they circled round, | |
| Nor was there any sound, | |
| Nor footprint on the ground. | |
| |
|
|
|
