 FROM ORANGES AND LEMONS
EDWARD CAPERN
(January 21, 1819
June 5, 1894),
From an early age he worked in a
lace factory. His failing eyesight
forced him to abandon this occupation in 1847 and
he was in dire
distress until he secured an appointment to be
"the Rural Postman of
Bideford," by which name he is usually
known.He
occupied his leisure in writing occasional poetry
which struck the popular fancy. Collected in a
volume and published by
subscription in 1856, it received the warm praise
of the reviews and
many distinguished people. This is one of his poems that was used
in the "Boys' Third Standard," and it was published
in 1873 though I am not sure of the exact date the
poem was written, it is called; THE
BONNIE MAY.
HERE she comes, the bonnie May,
Sportive as a
lamb at play,
Beauteous as in
days of yore,
Welcome to the
rich and poor;
Nought is gloomy,
sad, or drear,
All is gladness
everywhere.
Village lads are
up betimes,
Waiting not for
morning chimes,
Leaving each his humble home,
O'er the fresh
green fields to roam.
See them one by one return,
Raptures in their
bright eyes burn,
As
the branch is borne along
To
the tune of ancient song,
This
the burthen of their lay,
"Here she comes, the First of May."
Now their little
hands begin,
Mid the shouts
and merry din,
Pretty wreaths
and floral strings
For
their May-day offerings.
Round the Maypole, round and round,
Men, and maids,
and children bound ;
Show'ring, as they halt between,
Honours on their
May-day Queen ;
E'en
the hamlet's oldest men
Laugh, and feel they're young
again,
Shouting as each
chaplet swings,
Till
the very welkin rings.
Sadness hath no song for her,
May 's the
merriest of the year.
ROUND THE
MAYPOLE, ROUND AND
ROUND
Posted 11:27
|
Edward Capern has joined Oranges and Lemons to tell you about "The Bonnie May."
