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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE RETURN OF THE FAIRY: 13. THE LAMENTABLE ABSENCE OF CALLERS by HUMBERT WOLFE

First Line: THEN, AS DAY FOLLOWED DAY, / SHE SAT IN THE HALL
Last Line: ONE'S SELF TO ONE'S SELF.
Subject(s): FAIRIES; ELVES;

THEN, as day followed day,
she sat in the hall
in case any mortal
should happen to call;
but nobody came, because
no one was able
to enter the house with
the little white gable.
And even the post, and the taxes
and rates
passed by without trying
the little white gates.
And, indeed, there were many
who, since it was small
and beautiful, said it was not
there at all.
She summoned the butler
at last in despair,
but all he would do
was to leap in the air;
while the maid (when at last they
had wakened her) said,
"Well, what is the matter with
staying in bed?"
And the cook, who was found
eating cheese on the shelf,
believed in one's keeping
one's self to one's self.



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