THE WIND AMONG THE REEDS

At the coming of night-tide, And dreamed of the long dim hair Of Bridget his bride. He heard while he sang and dreamed A piper piping away,And never was piping so sad,And never was piping so gay.And he saw young men and young girls Who danced on a level place,And Bridget his bride among them,With a sad and a gay face.The dancers crowded about him And many a sweet thing said,And a young man brought him red wine And a young girl white bread.But Bridget drew him by the sleeve Away from the merry bands,To old men playing at cards With a twinkling of ancient hands.The bread and the wine had a doom,For these were the host of the air;He sat and played in a dream Of her long dim hair.He played with the merry old men Of her long dim hair.He played with the merry old men Of her long dim hair.He played with the merry old men,The handsomest young man there,And his neck and his breast and his arms Were drowned in her long dim hair.O’Driscoll scattered the cardsAnd out of his dream awoke:Were drowned in her long dim hair.O’Driscoll scattered the cardsAnd out of his dream awoke:But he heard high up in the air A piper piping away, And never was piping so sad?