The Spell

"We have the receipt of fern seed: we walk invisible." - HENRY IV     And we have met but twice or thrice! -     Three times enough to make me love! -     I praised your hair once; then your glove;     Your eyes; your gown; - you were like ice;     And yet this might suffice, my love,     And yet this might suffice.     St. John hath told me what to do:     To search and find the ferns that grow     The fern seed that the faeries know;     Then sprinkle fern seed in my shoe,     And haunt the steps of you, my dear,     And haunt the steps of you.     You'll see the poppy pods dip here;     The blow-ball of the thistle slip,     And no wind breathing - but my lip     Next to your anxious cheek and ear,     To tell you I am near, my love,     To tell you I am near.     On wood-ways I shall tread your gown -     You'll know it is no brier! - then     I'll whisper words of love again,     And smile to see your quick face frown:     And then I'll kiss it down, my dear,     And then I'll kiss it down.     And when at home you read or knit, -     Who'll know it was my hands that blotted     The page? - or all your needles knotted?     When in your rage you cry a bit:     And loud I laugh at it, my love,     And loud I laugh at it.     The secrets that you say in prayer     Right so I'll hear: and, when you sing,     The name you speak; and whispering     I'll bend and kiss your mouth and hair,     And tell you I am there, my dear,     And tell you I am there.     Would it were true what people say! -     Would I _could_ find that elfin seed!     Then should I win your love, indeed,     By being near you night and day -     There is no other way, my love,     There is no other way.     Meantime the truth in this is said:     It is my soul that follows you;     It needs no fern seed in the shoe, -     While in the heart love pulses red,     To win you and to wed, my dear,     To win you and to wed.