A. E. Housman
1859 - 1936


Her Strong Enchantments Failing

Her strong enchantments failing,
Her towers of fear in wreak,
Her limbecks dried of poisons
And the knife at her kneck,

The Queen of air and darkness
Begins to shrill and cry,
'O young man, O my slayer,
To-morrow you shall die.'

O Queen of air and darkness,
I think 'tis true you say,
And I shall die to-morrow;
But you will die to-day.