THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN
Reading edition
On the black road through the wood, As I rode, There the Headless Horseman stood, By the dark pool in the wood, As I rode. From the shadow of an oak, As I rode, Demon steed and rider broke; By the thunder-riven oak, As I rode. On the wild way through the plain, As I rode, At my back he whirled like rain; On the tempest-blackened plain, As I rode. Four black hoofs shod red with fire, As I rode, Woke the wild rocks, dark and dire; Eyes and nostrils streaming fire, As I rode. On the deep path through the rocks, As I rode, I could touch his horse's locks; Through the echo-hurling rocks, As I rode. And again I looked behind, As I rode— Dark as night and swift as wind, Towering, he rode behind, As I rode. On the steep road through the dell, As I rode, Far away I heard a bell, In the church beyond the dell, As I rode. And my soul cried out in prayer, As I rode— Lo! the demon went in air, When my soul called out in prayer, As I rode.