The May Queen: Alfred Lord Tennyson

'You must wake and call me early, call me early; mother dear;
Tomorrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad New Year;
Of all the glad New Year, mother, the maddest, merriest day;
For I'm to be Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen O' the May.

The honey-suckle round the porch has wov'n it's wavy bowers;
And by the meadow-trenches blow the faint, sweet cuckoo flowers,
And the wild marsh-marigold shines like fire in the swamps andhollows gray,
And I'm to be Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen O' the May.

The night winds come and go, mother, upon the meadow-grass,
And the happy stars above them, seem to brighten as they pass,
There will not be a drop of rain the whole of the livelong day,
And I'm to be Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen O' the May.

And the valley, mother, 'ill be fresh and green and still;
And the cowslip and the crowfoot are over all the hill.
And the rivulet in the flowery dale 'ill merrily glance and play,
For I'm to be Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen O' the May.

So you must wake, and call me early, call me early, mother dear,
Tomorrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad New Year;
Of all the glad New Year, mother, the maddest, merriest day;
For I'm to be Queen O' the May, mother, I'm to be Queen O' the May. ~Tennyson, (1809-1892)

Photo credit: Catholic Tradition

In honor of Our Lady we will be celebrating with a Special Daily Devotion throughout the Merry, Mary Month of May!! Happy May Day!

Comments

[Dawn]

Meredith, thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. I can't wait to hear about your May activities! :)

[Jennifer]

We have loved this poem ever since reading about Julia's recitation of it in the Betsy-Tacy-Tib books. I am so glad you have posted it!

[Rebecca]

Thanks for posting this beautiful poem, Meredith!