The Nadja Malacrida Society is currently putting a new book together which brings all of Nadja’s published poems together in one volume.
We noticed that, in the Evergreen Poems, she had some verses that she wrote on Halloween 1910, ie 90 years ago today, when she was 15 years old – so we thought we’d share one with you here…
SHADOWS.
SHADOWS softly fleeting
O'er the garden wall,
Making the great oak-tree
Wondrous grim and tall.
Nurse says the're no ghosts now.
But I know there are ;
Skimming round the chimney,
Now near and now far.
When I'm safely tucked up,
And nurse says good-night,
I do often wonder
Where they keep the light.
Shadows seem to wander
Round my little bed.
Drifting o'er the pillow
Where I lay my head.
Good-night, you old ghosts you
I ain't 'fraid of you,
'Cos you know my Nanny
Says you isn't true!
Nadja, October 31st, 1910
First published in the Evergreen: Poems, Arthur L Humphreys (London, 1911)
