Poetry Archives

Into the woods three huntsmen came,
Seeking the white stag for their game.

They laid them under a green fir-tree
And slept, and dreamed strange things to see.

  (FIRST HUNTSMAN)

I dreamt I was beating the leafy brush,
When out popped the noble stag—hush, hush!

  (SECOND HUNTSMAN)

As ahead of the clamorous pack he sprang,
I pelted him hard in the hide—piff, bang!

  (THIRD HUNTSMAN)

And as that stag lay dead I blew
On my horn a lusty tir-ril-la-loo!

So speak the three as there they lay
When lo! the white stag sped that way,

Frisked his heels at those huntsmen three,
Then leagues o’er hill and dale was he—
Hush, hush! Piff, bang! Tir-ril-la-loo!