In front of the mighty washing machine
The small lady stood in a beautiful dream
But then came a great witch passing on the air
Who said—what is it you still wish for, my pretty dear?
Would you like to be a duck on a northern lake?
Or maybe a piece—of chocolate layer cake?
Get real! cried the lady with a brave face
Human inventions are believable—magic’s a disgrace!
The witch flew off cackling, for the harm had been done
Leaving without me?—cried the lady
Who followed her into the sun
And now in a strange way, on the wind-driven crystal belt
Of that distant northern lake—she is without help
Heart of my heart—it is a mournful song
Never will this poor lady come home
You could rewrite that part—the lady blinked
Oh, why not? grinned the witch
As she turned and winked
In front of the mighty washing machine The small lady stood in a beautiful dream But then came a great witch passing on the air Who said—what is it you still wish for, my pretty dear? Would you like to be a duck on a northern lake? Or maybe a piece—of chocolate layer cake?
Get real! cried the lady with a brave face Human inventions are believable—magic’s a disgrace!
The witch flew off cackling, for the harm had been done Leaving without me?—cried the lady Who followed her into the sun And now in a strange way, on the wind-driven crystal belt Of that distant northern lake—she is without help
Heart of my heart—it is a mournful song Never will this poor lady come home You could rewrite that part—the lady blinked Oh, why not? grinned the witch As she turned and winked
Robert Graves [paraphrased]