Jack O' Lanthorn Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

O bat's cry and mist-rack and dark o' the moon!
O roving of wayfarers and wetting of gay shoon!
Fen-pool and quagmire and pathways white wi' fog,
And Jack o' Lanthorn dancing, a-dancing in the bog!

Ho! You tramping sailor-lad, fresh from off the foam,
Here's the flash of fire-light, here's the blink of home!
Ho! You courting farmer's lad, foolish, fond and fain,
Here's the lamp a-gleaming from your true love's window-pane!

Long, long and weary the way that you go:
Short to tread and swift to tread the road that I show:
Turn, O lover from the plough, and lad from the sea,
Here's the lamp of your desire, turn and come to me!

O bat's cry and mist-rack and dark o' the moon;
O roving of wayfarers and wetting of gay shoon!
Fen-pool and quagmire and pathways white wi' fog,
And Jack o' Lanthorn dancing, a-dancing in the bog!