Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DITTY, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DITTY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The goodman said
Last Line: In april woods to stray!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter


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!





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