 | The Cup of Quietness |  |
22
MAY
Fair maid, on whom all seasons wait
With gifts of grace, the month is here
That unto thee is consecrate—
The girlhood of the year.
With gifts of grace, the month is here
That unto thee is consecrate—
The girlhood of the year.
Awake! for dewy-fingered May
Hath gathered in her lap of green
The cowslip's tribute gold, to pay
To thee, her chosen queen.
Hath gathered in her lap of green
The cowslip's tribute gold, to pay
To thee, her chosen queen.
Since moonlight through thy casement stole,
The beauty of thy sleep to see,
The nightingale hath spent his soul
In serenading thee.
The beauty of thy sleep to see,
The nightingale hath spent his soul
In serenading thee.
Now sunbeams to thy lattice troop,
The solace of thy face to seek;
Though soft the young beech-leaves, they droop
With envy of thy cheek.
The solace of thy face to seek;
Though soft the young beech-leaves, they droop
With envy of thy cheek.
23
By that red blossom of thy mouth
The apple-bud was taught to bloom,
And thence the flower-caressing South
Hath stolen its perfume.
The apple-bud was taught to bloom,
And thence the flower-caressing South
Hath stolen its perfume.
To earth the bluebells bring the sky,
Because with blue thine eyes are bright;
In semblance of thy purity
The lanes are clothed in white.
Because with blue thine eyes are bright;
In semblance of thy purity
The lanes are clothed in white.
Thou sufferest the maiden year
To wear the mask of thee awhile;
But, ah! thou canst not lend her, dear,
The summer of thy smile.
To wear the mask of thee awhile;
But, ah! thou canst not lend her, dear,
The summer of thy smile.
And yet one glory May doth boast
Wherein all other glories meet—
For this I honour her the most—
She is thy namesake, sweet.
Wherein all other glories meet—
For this I honour her the most—
She is thy namesake, sweet.
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