There Are Faeries

I     There are faeries, bright of eye,     Who the wildflowers' warders are:     Ouphes, that chase the firefly;     Elves, that ride the shooting-star:     Fays, who in a cobweb lie,     Swinging on a moonbeam bar;     Or who harness bumblebees,     Grumbling on the clover leas,     To a blossom or a breeze -     That's their faery car.     If you care, you too may see     There are faeries. - Verily,     There are faeries. II     There are faeries. I could swear     I have seen them busy, where     Roses loose their scented hair,     In the moonlight weaving, weaving,     Out of starlight and the dew,     Glinting gown and shimmering shoe;     Or, within a glowworm lair,     From the dark earth slowly heaving     Mushrooms whiter than the moon,     On whose tops they sit and croon,     With their grig-like mandolins,     To fair faery ladykins,     Leaning from the windowsill     Of a rose or daffodil,     Listening to their serenade     All of cricket-music made.     Follow me, oh, follow me!     Ho! away to Farie!     Where your eyes like mine may see     There are faeries. - Verily,     There are faeries. III     There are faeries. Elves that swing     In a wild and rainbow ring     Through the air; or mount the wing     Of a bat to courier news     To the faery King and Queen:     Fays, who stretch the gossamers     On which twilight hangs the dews;     Who, within the moonlight sheen,     Whisper dimly in the ears     Of the flowers words so sweet     That their hearts are turned to musk     And to honey; things that beat     In their veins of gold and blue:     Ouphes, that shepherd moths of dusk -     Soft of wing and gray of hue -     Forth to pasture on the dew. IV     There are faeries; verily;     Verily:     For the old owl in the tree,     Hollow tree,     He who maketh melody     For them tripping merrily,     Told it me.     There are faeries. - Verily,     There are faeries.