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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MAY DAY, by                     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;
Branching trees are thick with leaves;
Now comes the bird of dusty hue,
The bitter, evil time is over.
The loud cuckoo, the summer-lover;
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.

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




Loaded bees of little power
Corncrake sings from eve to morn,
Goodly flower-harvest win;
Deep in corn, a strenuous bard!
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-
Now it slumbers without motion,
Loaded bees with puny power
Goodly flower-harvest win;
On the ocean sleeps the sail.
Cattle roam with muddy flanks;
Men grow mighty in the May,
Proud and gay the maidens grow;
Busy ants go out and in.
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,
With gold gleams the water-flag;
Making music roars the gale -
Leaps the fish, and on the hills
Now it settles without motion,
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,
Fair and bright the plain below.
Small and shy, his tireless lay,

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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