Queen of May

 Q u e e n   o f   M a y

a poem

*

On a May morn, I slept, I saw

The Mistress of the May

Queen of summer’s light

Brightness of the day

My heart was afire, my heart was aflame

For I looked upon she of the sweetest name

We crown thee with blossoms today—

Queen of the Angels

and Queen of the May!

Lullay, lullay

In the garden I lay

In the light of the light

In the bright of the bright

On the first bright morn

of May

I nodded—

I woke—

Or so it seemed—

Or may it be that I dreamed

Of the glorious Queen of May

Dazzling!

Dazzling!

Dazzling!

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

Sumer is icumen in!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

Look at all the lovely maids

Bright flowers in their hair

Round and round the maypole go

The maidens of the May

The children laugh, the bluebird sings

On this morn of brilliant things

The maidens dance, the children play

We await our lovely Queen of May!

Bring flowers of the rarest

Bring flowers of the fairest

We crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May

Her

Radiance!

Radiance!

Radiance!

I, the Poet, rise from slumber

To join the festive fair

My heart now alight with ardor

Her sweet perfume is on the air!

Sing a song of Maytime

Sing a song of spring

Flowers are in their beauty

Birds are on the wing

In the rare air of the bluebird’s grace

My heart is a holy fire

I sigh to see her splendorous face

Bright Queen of the world’s desire!

The May Queen, the May Queen

We love the May Queen

We come now you to greet

You see us at your feet

Flowers float upon the air

Girls dance in the dazzling sun

I tremble, I tremor, I faint

I long for the loveliest One

Queen of May, Queen of May

Our lovely Queen of May

We come to greet thee

And to crown thee

Glorious Queen of May!

The bluebird swoons somewhere above

Lost in the light of Heaven

Eternal! Enduring! Brilliant! Bright!

Princess of Summer and Queen of the Light!

I missed her in the morning

I missed her in the May

I saw her once in a verdant wood

Garbed in a gown of white

There she, the Summer Queen, stood

In burning beauty bright

Upon her fair head a fragrant crown—

The blossoms of the May-tree

Princess of the springtide

Queen of summer’s light

The birds of spring surround her

the vernal birds! their sparkling chirps!

Her eyes reflect the light of Love

the golden light

the glittering leaves

The bluebird sings above

All that is gold does not glitter

All that glitters is gold

The children laugh, hearts light with joy

As the matchless Maiden approacheth

Brightest Princess, Light of Day!

Here comes now the Queen of May!

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

Sumer is icumen in!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

She, the dazzling Damozel

Garbed in a gown of white

She, the Lady of the May

The Queen is now in sight!

Queen of May, Queen of May

O Brightness of the Day!

We come to greet thee

And we crown thee

Glorious Queen of May!

The children dance around her

They bring her flowers fair

The maids with love surround her

They place them in her hair

Bring flowers the rarest

Bring to the fairest

We crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May!

My heart grows faint with longing

For the loveliest Queen of Heaven

She, elf-beautiful Queen!

All the world reflects her sheen

She, the Princess of the Light

She, the form of beauty bright

I missed her in the morning

I missed her in the May

I glimpsed her once by a glistening lake

Garbed in a gown of white

Noble swans sailed beside her

She was

Summer’s bright Queen, Lady of Light

I will be there to share forever

Blossoms of the orange adorned her hair

Their sweet perfume on the balmy air

I saw her at the dawn of the day

When all of life was May

You put the light in my life

I once drew near her, it seemed

Or may it be that I dreamed

I saw the light upon her face

Her radiance—her loveliness—her grace

She was

Daughter of the dawn

Brightness of the day

It's there when you call out my name

The day’s light begins to fade

Yet still I recall in the evening shade

The Lady of the Lovely Light

She of brilliant beauty bright

I once beheld her fairest face

On some lost and long ago day

When all of life was morning

When all of life was May

You'll wait a long time for me

You’ll wait a long time

And now no more is seen

My bright and brilliant Queen

Nevermore to see her sight

Lady of Love, Lady of Light

Darkness, do not take her away!

That ain’t no way to treat a lady

The Lady of the May

The music receding, the music now lost

Echoing sadly away

My heart is afire, my heart is aflame

For I looked upon she of the sweetest name

We crown her with blossoms today—

Queen of the Angels

and Queen of the May!

The flowers torment me

In their loveliness soft and fair

In the fragrance of their ardent love

The birds sing in the empty air!

In the dazzling brilliance of summer’s light

My heart dwells in bright despair

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

I woke, I wept

In the brightness of the day

For no more did I see

The Mistress of the May

My Lady—my Love—

My Bright and Brilliant Queen

I missed her in the morning

I missed her in the May

Sumer is icumen in!

Loudly sing, cuckoo!

Steven Holland

May 1, 2021