Ah, day of joy! The sound of pipe and flute with sweetly blending tone doth charm the sense, and young and old approach with eager foot, lured by the call of sweet-voiced instruments. Gay, gay, let us be wed, coifs and ribbons and bridal bell. Gay, gay, let us be wed, and this happy couple as well. Fair blossoms fill the church from side to side. Bells great and small chime out the wedding tune, -- three hundred small bells for the eyes of the bride, a clanging tocsin for the heart of the groom. Gay, gay, let us be wed, coifs and ribbons and bridal bell. Gay, gay, let us be wed, and this happy couple as well. The pealing chime has silenced every tongue. Ah, sorrow, when it rings for us no more! Weep o'er your prayer-books, ye that are not young. Soon it will toll to say your life is o'er. Gay, gay, let us be wed, coifs and ribbons and bridal veil. Gay, gay, let us be wed, and this happy couple as well. Now it is done and the church bells abate. Dance to the pair with passion's over plus. Cheer for the lad and the lass and the fete! Ah, we are glad when it is not for us! Gay, gay, let us be wed, coifs and ribbons and bridal bell. Gay, gay, let us be wed, and this happy couple as well. Ah, day of joy! With sound of pipe and flute old age awhile forgets its impotence. Dance, boys and girls! The world is 'neath your foot! O, the delight of sweet-voiced instruments! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOUR HANDS by ANGELINA WELD GRIMKE MEDITATIONS OF A HINDU [OR, HINDOO] PRINCE [AND SKEPTIC] by ALFRED COMYNS LYALL YEARS OF THE MODERN by WALT WHITMAN PETITION OF A SCHOOLBOY TO HIS FATHER by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |