Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


MAUDLIN'S SONG: 1, FR. MIDSUMMER EVE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY

First Line: FETCH THE PORRIDGE-POT HITHER TO ME
Last Line: WARILY DOWN AND SHAKE IT. NOW!

I

FETCH the porridge-pot hither to me,
The porridge-pot and the dairy key;
And bring me a clout to wind my hair,
Or the swarming bees will tangle there:
They drip from the hive in the orchard long
And coil the green-cherried boughs among
As they follow the tanking tune I ring
Under the cherry leaves' shivering.
They settle, they knit -- Come, Ailce, with the skep --
Step along, Mistyhead -- Smearycap, step --
Steady it while I draw the bough
Warily down and shake it. Now!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net