THE  SPELL
 
He came to me buttoning up his coat 
and I greeted him with lowered eyes. 

When I held out my open hand 
he laid within it his clenched fist. 

Then he sat down upon the settle 
and beside him was a lighted candle. 

And I sat down upon the settle 
and beside me was a bowl of water. 

He told me of his daily work 
and I wrote it down beneath my thighs. 

Then he brought forth a golden ring 
and this he glissed onto my finger. 

And when we set our lips together 
he opened my teeth with the top of his tongue. 

Then gently I lifted my bowl of water 
and he took up his lighted candle, 

and spelling words over bowl and flame, 
dowsed his candle in the water.

                              (1945)