The Witch-Bride by William Allingham (Poem)

“The Witch-Bride” is a poem written in the mid-19th century by the Irish poet, diarist, and Editor, William Allingham. Not nearly as well-known as his poem “The Fairies“, “The Witch-Bride” tells the tale of a man who is tricked into marriage by a witch and is unable to escape her.

“The Witch-Bride” was first published in in Poems—Allingham’s first poetry collection.

 

 

The Witch-Bride

By William Allingham

A fair witch crept to a young man’s side,
And he kiss’d her and took her for his bride.

But a Shape came in at the dead of night,
And fill’d the room with snowy light.

And he saw how in his arms there lay
A thing more frightful than mouth may say.

And he rose in haste, and follow’d the Shape
Till morning crown’d an eastern cape.

And he girded himself, and follow’d still,
When sunset sainted the western hill.

But, mocking and thwarting, clung to his side,
Weary day! – the foul Witch-Bride.

 

William Allingham (1824 – 1889)