Poems of Madison Cawein Vol. 4 — The Nixies

THE NIXIES

Deep down, beneath the waves, Great emerald-curving caves Dark-domed above it, Dim-walled with pearl and gold Glimmers their city old-- Hast thou heard of it?

-- Where, through the long green nights, the spangling spars Twinkle like misty stars.

Where the wind-ripple rays, And the white water sprays Over the rocks, Sitting, they comb their hair;

Singing, with fingers fair Braiding their locks;

While round their loveliness of naked limbs The moon's gold glamour swims.

Or, on some stormy night, Seen through the glow-worm light Haunting the sands, Thou canst behold them drift Wild thro' the foam, and lift Pale arms and hands;

Or, in the lightning's leap, along the lake, Dance in the tempest's wake.

Singing: "Come join our dance!

Come, while the lightnings glance, Or when the moon Spills all her flowers of light At the dark feet of night;

And soon, ah, soon, Within our shadowy halls thou shalt forget Earth's fever and its fret."