 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
2
THE FIRST SUMMER SONG
Beltane! the Season's star!
Enchanting then the colours are;
Blackbirds flute a full lay,
Be there but a dart of day.
Enchanting then the colours are;
Blackbirds flute a full lay,
Be there but a dart of day.
The loud cuckoo, of dusky hue,
Cries, “Hail! splendid hour!”
He's gone, the churl of surly brow,
Every bough is now a bower!
Cries, “Hail! splendid hour!”
He's gone, the churl of surly brow,
Every bough is now a bower!
Summer calls; the river falls;
The swift wild steed to the pool is gone;
The heath outspreads her tresses bright;
Soft and white is the cannavaun.
The swift wild steed to the pool is gone;
The heath outspreads her tresses bright;
Soft and white is the cannavaun.
Tremors take the heart of the deer;
Smooth and clear runs the tide;
Season when the ocean sleeps,
And blossom creeps the earth to hide.
Smooth and clear runs the tide;
Season when the ocean sleeps,
And blossom creeps the earth to hide.
Bees with puny strength upbear
Through the air their burden sweet;
Cows, mire-footed, mount the hill,
Ants their fill of honey eat.
Through the air their burden sweet;
Cows, mire-footed, mount the hill,
Ants their fill of honey eat.
Forest harps music sound;
The sail gathers! Peace profound!
Hue on hue the mountain takes,
In misty blue melt the lakes.
The sail gathers! Peace profound!
Hue on hue the mountain takes,
In misty blue melt the lakes.
3
A strenuous bard, the corncrake calls;
The virgin falls fill their urns,
To the panting pool descanting
Till the rushes' talk returns.
The virgin falls fill their urns,
To the panting pool descanting
Till the rushes' talk returns.
Light aloft dart the swallows!
Melody follows the green hill's round;
The soft rich mast is burgeoning fast,
The frogs in chorus croak around.
Melody follows the green hill's round;
The soft rich mast is burgeoning fast,
The frogs in chorus croak around.
Dark is the peat as the raven's coat,
The cuckoo's note bids welcome wide—
The speckled trout from the stream leaps out;
Long and strong is the warrior's stride.
The cuckoo's note bids welcome wide—
The speckled trout from the stream leaps out;
Long and strong is the warrior's stride.
Man flourishes; in fair young pride
At his side the maiden buds—
Perfect each plain, majestic, mute—
From crown to root perfect each wood.
At his side the maiden buds—
Perfect each plain, majestic, mute—
From crown to root perfect each wood.
The sunny splendour how delightful!
Winter frightful far is fled.
With flower each orchard now is white full,
Such joyous peace has summer shed!
Winter frightful far is fled.
With flower each orchard now is white full,
Such joyous peace has summer shed!
Amid the meadows, among bright petals,
Softly settles a flight of stares;
Richly around the green field rustles,
Through and through it a white stream fares.
Softly settles a flight of stares;
Richly around the green field rustles,
Through and through it a white stream fares.
4
Wild longing is on you for racing horses,
The level courses the ranked lines hold,
And such bright shafts through the blue air shiver
Each flag in the river is flashing gold.
The level courses the ranked lines hold,
And such bright shafts through the blue air shiver
Each flag in the river is flashing gold.
A little importunate one upspringing
Shrills and shrills his tremulous lay!
The lark it is, clear tidings singing
Of May of the colours, enchanting May!
Shrills and shrills his tremulous lay!
The lark it is, clear tidings singing
Of May of the colours, enchanting May!
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |