Looking for similar poetry/lullabie/rhymes to these...

[chala86]

Hey everyone
I'm currently writing a book which is going to include various snippets of poetry about fairies. While researching for the darker side of this book, I came across two poems which are perfect but am struggling to find more that are similar.

The first apparently comes from 18th century Wales and was used as a lullaby, although why you would want to sing this to a child I'll never know:

The Faceless One
Hush thy childe, do not stray far from the path.
Or The Faceless One shall steal you away to Fairieland.
He preys on sinful and defiant souls,
and lurks within the woods.
He has hands of ebony branches,
and a touch as soft as silk,
Fear The Faceless One thy childe,
for he shall take you to a dark place.
And what shall become of thou?
Noone knows, so be good, thy little one -
Alas! He is here to take thou away!

The second is a German poem, author unknown, date written unknown:

Schlankwald (Slim Forest)
They say that monsters come only at night
That light will drive them away,
But not all creatures follow this rule,
Safety not certain during the day.
He hides on the fringes of your vision,
Brief glimpses of the distorted.
He slithers and writhes behind your eyes,
Reaching for you, limbs contorted.
Before you know it your children are taken,
And now it's come down to you.
His breath is oppressive, his presence acidic,
He feels pity is undue.
Suddenly, trapped in his grasp so tight,
You struggle to break yourself free.
He laughs and he gurgles and he screeches with glee,
He turns your head for you to see.
Your children are crying though their eyes are removed,
They collapse, still and silent.
His arms and legs bend pulling you closer,
The man's eyes dark and violent.
He strikes and he cuts, your skin flays open,
Your soul too weak to resist.
This should not have happened, if only you had listened,
Never go into his forest.

So, does anyone know of any poetry, rhymes or lullabies which might be deemed similar. They can come from any time, although the older the better. Hope to hear from you soon and thank you in advance for your input.

[mona amon]

How about this one, though it's not as dark as the second one you posted.

William Allingham. 1824–1889

The Fairies

UP the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren't go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk, 5
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl's feather!

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home, 10
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs, 15
All night awake.

High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and gray
He 's nigh lost his wits. 20
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with music 25
On cold starry nights
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget
For seven years long; 30
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back,
Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep, 35
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake,
On a bed of flag-leaves,
Watching till she wake. 40

By the craggy hill-side,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn-trees
For pleasure here and there.
If any man so daring 45
As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen, 50
We daren't go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap, 55
And white owl's feather!

[chala86]

Thank you mona amon. It's definitely a start. Anymore would be fantastic.