The Witching of Teddy O’Neal

1 
Teddy O'Neal went up the Hill:
               Heart of my heart was Teddy O'Neal, 
        For the light of the Good Folk was over his path, 
        And the music called him from dune and rath, 
And I could not stay him, delay him, nor pray him
               To fly from the witch-wives,  my Teddy O'Neal.
2        
Teddy O'Neal went up the Hill:
               Best of the Best was Teddy O'Neal, 
        Drawn by the cords that the Good Folk make, 
        With a heart on flame for the music's sake;
But I knew there was danger for Teddy, a stranger,
               In the Court of Finvarra,  my Teddy O'Neal.
3       
Teddy O'Neal went up the Hill:
               Fair as the morning was Teddy O'Neal, 
        He danced with the witch-wives, one, two, three, 
        He tasted their wine and he turned from me
From me while I pleaded, he speeded nor heeded;
               Of the wine of Finvarra drank Teddy O'Neal.
4     
Teddy O'Neal sank down on the Hill.
               The Black Rath swallowed my Teddy O'Neal,
        And I prayed to the Saints as I stood without
        And heard through the hill side the rattle and shout
Of the feast that they gave him, and I could not save him;
               For a witch-wife was charming my Teddy O'Neal.
5     
Teddy O'Neal came down the Hill,—
               Not my brother, my Teddy O'Neal,
        The kiss of the witch-wife was red on his mouth;
        He turned from my table in hunger and drouth,
The Good Folk had crowned him, and bound him and wound him 
               In the  Spell of Finvarra,  my  Teddy  O'Neal.
6     
Teddy O'Neal is back in the Plains—
               The flesh of the body of Teddy O'Neal;
        But his lips are closed and his voice is still,
        And I know that his heart is straining up Hill
To the witch-wife he strayed with and stayed with and paid with
               The price of his soul, my poor Teddy O'Neal.

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