Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MAY DAY ORISON, by ELIZABETH STANLEY TROTTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A MAY DAY ORISON, by                    
First Line: These are the children of the may
Last Line: Emblem of happy hours.
Subject(s): Angels; Children; May (month); Spring; Childhood


An angel chants:

These are the children of the May.
This is their youth: this is their day.
Upon the threshold of your world
They stand and wonder. Closely furled,
Life's message, like a banner rolled
Awaits them.. As you shall unfold
Its meaning, so their consciousness
Will bear its tender, first impress
Of welcome, sweet as sweetest May --
Sweet as themselves! or dour and grey,
The breaking of their morn must seem
The onset of a mocking dream --
If you betray them. In their breasts
Love throbs, hope sings, contentment rests.
Laughter hides in their limpid eyes
For which their lips are curving -- dies
If you quell it.
The children sing:

Ah, dear world
Of mother-hearts, that held us curled
Safe, warm within you -- throng to heed
Our living, urging wants, our need
Of all the simple, childish blisses --
Sweet sounds, soft words, warms arms, close kisses.
Oh. father-minds! your souls' rebirth
Depends on children; on the worth
Of your resolve to guard the flame
Of childhood's holiness from shame.
By you, Christ's self is kept alive
In every child you help to thrive:
Thus through the vow he made to men
You meet your God, a child again;
Fulfilling in diviner way
The lovely promise of May.

Ah, you who prize us, set us free
That we may cheer your world, and be
A sign that for eternal day
Childhood's springtime shall be May!
Look in our eyes and see the light
That shines there. Is it then too bright?
Must it be dimmed? Are skies too blue
For us? Are fields too fair for you?
Or woods too green and cool? Beware
How you withhold joy -- beauty . . . Care
Comes with wisdom. Carefree is best
For youth. Hence we are wholly blest
By joy. So let our voices ring
In song. In dance our bodies fling
About the may-pole decked with flowers,
Emblem of happy hours.





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