Robert Graves
To the woods, to the woods is the wizard gone;
In his grotto the maiden sits alone.
She gazes up with a weary smile
At the rafter-hanging crocodile,
The slowly swinging crocodile.
Scorn has she of her master’s gear,
Cauldron, alembic, crystal sphere,
Phial, philtre—”Fiddlededee
For all such trumpery trash!” quo’ she.
“A soldier is the lad for me;
Hey and hither, my lad!
“Oh, here have I ever lain forlorn:
My father died ere I was born,
Mother was by a wizard wed,
And oft I wish I had died instead—
Often I wish I were long time dead.
But, delving deep in my master’s lore,
I have won of magic power such store
I can turn a skull—oh, fiddlededee
For all this curious craft!” quo’ she.
“A soldier is the lad for me;
Hey and hither, my lad!
“To bring my brave boy unto my arms,
What need have I of magic charms—
‘Abracadabra!’ and ‘Prestopuff’?
I have but to wish, and that is enough.
The charms are vain, one wish is enough.
My master pledged my hand to a wizard;
Transformed would I be to toad or lizard
If e’er he guessed—but fiddlededee
For a black-browed sorcerer, now,” quo’ she.
“Let Cupid smile and the fiend must flee;
Hey and hither, my lad.”
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem presents an interesting blend of fantasy, longing, and humor. At first glance, it seems to play with the classic tropes of magic and wizardry, but through the character of the maiden, it reveals a deep dissatisfaction with the world of magic that she has been tied to. The opening lines quickly set up a contrast between the wizard—represented as the figure of authority and the keeper of magic—and the maiden, who feels trapped by her role and is yearning for something more grounded, something real.
The maiden’s disdain for her master’s magical tools is apparent in her dismissive attitude. Words like “Fiddlededee” serve as a rejection of the world she has been made to inhabit, a world full of potions and spells. What she desires instead is a soldier. This preference for a “soldier” hints at a yearning for action, for a life of passion and immediacy, something beyond the contrived rituals of magic. The repetition of “Hey and hither, my lad!” brings a sense of urgency to her desire, as if calling out to the world she wishes to be part of—one where the magic of love or romance is stronger than any spell.
The poem touches on themes of freedom and escape. The maiden’s wish for a soldier, someone “brave” and outside the realm of magic, echoes a desire to break free from the expectations placed upon her. The magical world, with its cauldrons and crystal spheres, represents confinement and tradition, while the soldier symbolizes adventure, independence, and a more direct approach to life and love.
The maiden’s backstory—being the daughter of a wizard, who lost her father before birth and was later married off to another wizard—adds another layer to her resentment. The sense of abandonment is palpable in the lines where she wishes she had never been born, revealing her deep dissatisfaction with the life that has been mapped out for her. In this context, the magic she wields becomes a tool of personal frustration rather than empowerment. The repetition of “fiddlededee” is a sort of playful rebellion, emphasizing her emotional disconnection from the power she has mastered.
The final lines of the poem, where the maiden declares that love—or, more specifically, her desire for a soldier—trumps magic, signify the heart of her rebellion. Her magic is no match for her longing to be free from the constraints of her magical upbringing. The phrase “Let Cupid smile and the fiend must flee” captures the shift from sorcery to love, from intellect to passion. It’s a final declaration that, in the face of her internal struggles, what she really wants is something that no spell can grant—true love, and with it, the freedom she craves.
Overall, this poem is a playful yet poignant reflection on the contrast between magic and reality, between duty and desire. The maiden’s rejection of her world in favor of a more tangible, human experience—love and a soldier—reminds us of the universal struggle for personal freedom and fulfillment. The magical realm, with all its power, is shown as inadequate in providing the happiness that the maiden seeks. Instead, it’s love, symbolized by the soldier, that she believes will bring her the freedom and fulfillment she longs for.