Stolen Child

Where dips the rocky highland of Sleuth Wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water-rats
There we've hid our fairy vats full of berries
And of reddest stolen cherries
Come away, O, human child!
To the woods and waters wild with a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand

Where the wave of moonlight glosses the dim grey sand with light
Far off by farthest Rosses we foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances, Mingling hands, and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap, and chase the frothy bubbles;
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep
Come away! O, human child! To the woods and waters wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand

Where the wandering water gushes from the hills above Glen-Car
In pools among the rushes, that scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout, And whispering in their eaars;
We give them evil dreams
Leaning softly out from ferns that drop their tears
Of dew on the young streams
Come! O human child! To the woods and waters wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand

Away with us, he's going, the solemn-eyed;
He'll hear no more the lowing of the calves on the warm hill-side
Or the kettle on the hob sing peace into his breast;
Or see the brown mice bob round and round the oatmeal chest
For he comes the human child, to the woods and waters wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than he can understand