A Charm

By PAGE COOPER

NIGHTSHADE and mistletoe
Squeezed with the womb of a virgin doe,
Juice of spider, sting of bee;
With love's old magic I conjure thee.

Thrice three the circle round,
I sweep with curlew's wing the ground,
Prick my breast on a black thorn tree.
With the blood of my heart I cry to thee.