Poems of Madison Cawein Vol. 4 — The Headless Horseman

THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN

On the black road through the wood, As I rode, There the Headless Horseman stood, By the dark pool in the wood, As I rode.

From the shadow of an oak, As I rode, Demon steed and rider broke;

By the thunder-riven oak, As I rode.

On the wild way through the plain, As I rode, At my back he whirled like rain;

On the tempest-blackened plain, As I rode.

Four black hoofs shod red with fire, As I rode, Woke the wild rocks, dark and dire;

Eyes and nostrils streaming fire, As I rode.

On the deep path through the rocks, As I rode, I could touch his horse's locks;

Through the echo-hurling rocks, As I rode.

And again I looked behind, As I rode-- Dark as night and swift as wind, Towering, he rode behind, As I rode.

On the steep road through the dell, As I rode, Far away I heard a bell, In the church beyond the dell, As I rode.

And my soul cried out in prayer, As I rode-- Lo!

the demon went in air, When my soul called out in prayer, As I rode.

THE WEREWOLF

_She_ Nay; still amort, my love?

--Why dost thou lag?

_He_ The strix-owl cried.