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APRIL-MAY, by                    
First Line: When I was a girl my mother would say
Last Line: May—june!


When I was a girl my mother would say,
"April—May!
These are the months to beware of the moon,
May—June!

"And the blackbird singing upon the spray,
April—May!
Beware, my child, of the blackbird's tune."
May—June!

When I was sixteen no more than a day,
April—May!
I met a young man in the flush of the noon.
May—June!

His step was light and his manner was gay,
April—May!
And he came from afar, by the dust on his shoon.
May—June!

I looked at him once, and I looked away,
April—May!
And my heart it asked but a single boon.
May—June!

"I love you," he said, "for ever and aye!"
April—May!
For ever and ever—the blackbird's tune!
May—June!

I could. not leave him or send him away,
April—May I
So we walked in the wood by the light of the moon.
May—June!

I had clean forgot what my mother did say,
April—May!
But I learned it all and I learned it soon.
May—June!

A blossoming branch in the wind a-sway,
April—May!
And petals over the grasses strewn. . . .
May—June!




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