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MAY DAY, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: May day! Delightful day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Rolleston, T. W.


May Day! delightful day!
May-Day! delightful day!
Bright colours play the vales along.
Bright colours play the vale along.
Now wakes at morning's slender ray,
Now wakes at morning's slender ray
Wild and gay, the blackbird's song.
Wild and gay the blackbird's song.
Now comes the bird of dusty hue,


The loud cuckoo, the summer-lover;
Now comes the bird of dusty hue,
Branching trees are thick with leaves;
The loud cuckoo, the summer-lover;
The bitter, evil time is over.
Branchy trees are thick with leaves;
Swift horses gather nigh
The bitter, evil time is over.
Where half dry the river goes;

Tufted heather crowns the height;
Weak and white the bogdown blows.

Corncrake sings from eve till morn,
Swift horses gather nigh
Deep in corn, a strenuous bard!
Where half dry the river goes;
Tufted heather clothes the height;
Sings the virgin waterfall,
White and tall, her one sweet word.
Weak and white the bogdown blows.




Corncrake sings from eve to morn,
Loaded bees of little power
Deep in corn, a strenuous bard!
Goodly flower-harvest win;
Sings the virgin waterfall,
Cattle roam with muddy flanks;
White and tall, her one sweet word.
Busy ants go out and in.

Through the wild harp of the wood

Making music roars the gale-
Loaded bees with puny power
Now it slumbers without motion,
On the ocean sleeps the sail.
Goodly flower-harvest win;
Men grow mighty in the May,
Cattle roam with muddy flanks;
Busy ants go out and in.
Proud and gay the maidens grow;

Fair is every wooded height,

Fair and bright the plain below.
Through the wild harp of the wood
A bright shaft has smit the streams,
Making music roars the gale -
With gold gleams the water-flag;
Now it settles without motion,
Leaps the fish, and on the hills
Ardour thrills the flying stag;
On the ocean sleeps the sail.
And you long to reach the courses

Where the slim swift horses race,

And the crowd is ranked applauding
Men grow mighty in the May,
Deep about the meeting-place.
Proud and gay the maidens grow;
Fair is every wooded height;
Carols loud the lark on high,
Small and shy, his tireless lay,
Fair and bright the plain below.
Singing in wildest, merriest mood


Of delicate-hued, delightful May.
A bright shaft has smit the streams,


With gold gleams the water-flag;
Leaps the fish, and on the hills
Ardour thrills the leaping stag.


Loudly carols the lark on high,
Small and shy, his tireless lay.
Singing in wildest, merriest mood,
Delicate-hued, delightful May.






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