Demons

The moon, through total darkness, hurrying

Illuminates the snow in flight

Clouds are whirling, clouds are scurrying

Dark is the sky, and dark, the night

Across the open plain, I'm driven

The little bell goes, "Ding-ding-ding"

By holy dread, my soul is riven

Such emptiness is gathering

"Coachman, drive them faster, faster!"

"Can't, sir, they're too tired, you see

I'm blinded by the blizzard, master

The roads are drifting heavily

Can't see the horses, lost the track, sir

We're done for, we'll be frozen, whey!

Some demon's got us, that's a fact, sir!

A demon's leading us astray"

"Look, there he is! He's teasing, blowing

Spitting at me, Lord! This one's mean

He's scared the horses, they'll be going

Headlong into some damned ravine

He's right in front, Lord, isn't he frightening!

Dressed like a milestone, bloody queer

And there he goes, off again, like lightning!

God save us, master, that was near"

The moon, through total darkness, hurrying

Illuminates the snow in flight

Clouds are whirling, clouds are scurrying

Dark is the sky, and dark the night

We lurch in circles, strength declining

Suddenly silent is the bell

The team has halted, "What's that shining?"

"Tree-stump or wolf, sir, who can tell?"

The storm is howling, the storm is crying

Drives itself harder in despair

The horses snort, away he's flying

Only his eyes in the grey murk flare

The horses strain upon their traces

The little bell goes, "Ding-ding-ding"

I see, amidst the endless spaces

A host of spirits, gathering

Numberless and formless devils

In the blizzard's moonlit haze

And twirling in their murky revels

As leaves swirl in November days

So many! So many! And being carried

Whither? Why do they plaintively sing?

Is there a witch who's getting married?

Some goblin, are they burying?

The moon, through total darkness, hurrying

Illuminates the snow in flight

Clouds are whirling, clouds are scurrying

Dark is the sky, and dark,the night

Swarm upon swarm of demons, streaking

On through this limbo without end

And with their plaintive howls and shrieking

They pounce upon my heart, and rend