IN summertime on Bredon The bells they sound so clear; Round both the shires they ring them In steeples far and near, A happy noise to hear. Here of a Sunday morning My love and I would lie, And see the coloured counties, And hear the larks so high About us in the sky. The bells would ring to call her In valleys miles away: "Come all to church, good people; Good people, come and pray." But here my love would stay. And I would turn and answer Among the springing thyme, "Oh, peal upon our wedding, And we will hear the chime, And come to church in time." But when the snows at Christmas On Bredon top were strown, My love rose up so early And stole out unbeknown And went to church alone. They tolled the one bell only, Groom there was none to see, The mourners followed after, And so to church went she, And would not wait for me. The bells they sound on Bredon, And still the steeples hum. "Come all to church, good people" -- Oh, noisy bells, be dumb; I hear you, I will come. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADELAIDE CRAPSEY by CARL SANDBURG THE LIVING STARS by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE PRETTY MILKMAID by MOTHER GOOSE TO A DOG by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM by ROBERT SOUTHEY TITA'S TEARS; A FANTASY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH GOOD-BYE by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT PROLOGUE FOR THE SILVERDALE VILLAGE PLAYERS: EASTER 1922 by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |