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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BY A BANK AS I LAY by ANONYMOUS

Last Line: GREAT JOY IT IS TO SEE

BY a bank as I lay,
Myself alone did muse:
@3Hey ho!@1
A bird's sweet voice
Did me rejoice,
She sang before the day.
Methought full well I wot her lay;
She said the winter's past
@3Hey ho!

Down, derry down, down, derry down, derry down,
derry down, derry down, derry down, down.@1

Master of Spring's sweet music,
The lusty nightingale
@3Hey ho!@1
Full merrily and secretly
She singeth in the thyke;
Within her breast a thorn doth prick
To keep off her from sleep.
@3Hey ho!

Down derry, down, etc.@1

Waken, therefore, youngmen,
All ye that lovers be.
@3Hey ho!@1
This month of May
So fresh, so gay,

So fair by field and fen,
Hath flowered o'er each leafy den:
Great joy it is to see.
@3Hey ho!

Down derry, down, etc.@1



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