The goodman said, ''Tis time for bed, Come, mistress, get us quick to pray; Call in the maids From out the glades Where they with lovers stray, With love, and love do stray.' 'Nay, master mine, The night is fine, And time's enough all dark to pray; 'Tis April buds Bedeck the woods Where simple maids away With love, and love do stray. 'Now we are old, And nigh the mould, 'Tis meet on feeble knees to pray; When once we'd roam, 'Twas else cried, "Come, And sigh the dusk away, With love, and love to stray."' So they gat in To pray till nine; Then called, 'Come maids, true maids, away! Kiss and begone, Ha' done, ha' done, Until another day With love, and love to stray!' Oh, it were best If so to rest Went man and maid in peace away! The throes a heart May make to smart Unless love have his way, In April woods to stray! -- In April woods to stray! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WORDS INTO WORDS WON'T GO by CLARENCE MAJOR THE LAND OF DREAMS by WILLIAM BLAKE JOSEPH'S COAT by GEORGE HERBERT THE ANGLER'S WISH by IZAAK WALTON PENITENTIAL PSALM by THOMAS WYATT MEN OF GENIUS by MATTHEW ARNOLD |