Legend of the Unicorn

WHEN I lived on the mountainside,
Under the green ash tree,
I had no need of place to hide
From those that wanted me.

I had no house of wood or stone,
No door that I could bar,
But by the spring I lived alone
Safer than any are.

Alone but for a sentinel
Who drank the spring with me,
Whose hooves rang like a silver bell
With a clapper of ivory.

He grazed beneath the mountain ash
And ate the berries red,
The sunlight through the leaves made flash
His golden-horned head.

Against each man who came that way
Meaning or bad or good,
Upon our little green at bay
Implacable he stood.

Against each one he was my friend,
Our green inviolate,
I did not know it was the end
When you stood at the gate.

But when he poised his golden horn
You did not move from there,
Your hands held out enchanted corn
Than berries sweeter fare.

I watched him waiting to be fed,
He sniffed, — I saw him cat,
And then he lowered his fabulous head
And nuzzled at your feet.

I saw you stroke the silver mane,
I saw you smooth his side,
I knew to fly was all in vain,
In vain it was to hide.

No flash of hooves or horn was seen
Under the green ash tree,
But all alone across the green
My lover came to me.