The Headless Horseman

On the black road through the wood As I rode, There the Headless Horseman stood; By the wild pool in the wood, As I rode.

From the shadow of an oak, As I rode, Demon steed and rider broke; By the thunder-shattered oak, As I rode.

On the waste road through the plain, As I rode, At my back he whirled like rain; On the tempest-blackened plain, As I rode.

Four fierce hoofs shod red with fire, As I rode, Woke the wild rocks, dark and dire; Eyes and nostrils streamed with fire, As I rode.

On the deep road through the rocks, As I rode, I could reach 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 down the dell, As I rode, In the night I heard a bell, In the village in the dell, As I rode.

And my soul called out in prayer, As I rode,-- Lo! the demon went in air, Leaving me alone in prayer, As I rode.