Light as petals in their falling,
Through a twilight summer hour,
Is your coming, and your passing
As the perfume of a flower,
And your voices by the wayside,
As a sigh the trees embower.

From the forest and the meadow,
From the mountain and the sea,
From the stars beyond the star-world,
From the visions yet to be,
As a dying song you linger
On the air and call to me.

Stay, oh stay and cross my threshold,
See the door is open wide,
And I listen for your coming
Through all things that do betide,
Through the weeping and the laughter,
That you may with me abide.

I will give you dainty raiment,
Jewelled o'er with fancies rare,
Through the shadow and the sunshine,
I will weave it for your wear,
Till all people see you clearly,
In the town's great thoroughfare.

Ah ! you call me but to mock me,
Fairy folk who will not stay ;
While I hasten to your summons,
As a mist you fade away ;
As a dream, I dream awaking
On the border of the day.