Who rideth through the driving rain At such a headlong speed? Naked and pale he rides amain Upon a naked steed. Nor hollow nor height his going bars, His wet steed shines like silk, His head is golden to the stars And his limbs are white as milk. But, lo, he dwindles as the light That lifts from a black mere, And, as the fair youth wanes from sight, The steed grows mightier. What wizard by yon holy tree Mutters unto the sky Where Macha's flame-tongued horses flee On hoofs of thunder by? Ah, 'tis not holy so to ban The youth of kingly seed: Ah! woe, the wasting of a man Who changes to a steed! Nightly upon the Plain of Kings, When Macha's day is nigh, He gallops; and the dark wind brings His lonely human cry. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OPPORTUNITY by NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI CROSSING THE BAR by ALFRED TENNYSON PURSUIT AND POSSESSION by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH I SHALL HAVE PEACE AGAIN (WRITTEN AFTER READING 'RIDERS TO THE SEA' by FLORA LOUISE BAILEY TO DR. PRIESTLEY. DEC. 29, 1792 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD BLACKBIRDS by CLARA EXLINE BOCKOVEN THE BOOK TO THE READER by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |