Lyric: Autumn to Summer

I have always greatly liked Sir Walter Scott's little poem "Proud Maisie." I thought I would give young Maisie a happier outcome, albeit inclusive of the pains of childbirth. Also, I wanted to try and write a lyric with something of the lightness but also depth of felt experience in Shakespeare's unmatchable lyrics. I'd be astonished if I succeeded. 

   "Bake first fruits loaves" is a reference to Lammas day (Loaf Mass day) on 1 August, when Mass was offered using the first bread baked from the wheat harvest of the year.

   A more stately (syllabic) lyric is "Though the Weekday Go," written in 1976 and posted on 5 July 2013. It is linked here.

--------------

What’s this! The oozy reek of rained-on earth,
      It sets my nose a-twitch,
   And autumn’s apples, girl’s-cheek red,
      Make lusts and loins to itch!
   So grab your girl – here’s tease, here’s mirth!
   For winter’s freezings kill all pleasings,
      And that’s a truth well said!

What’s winter? Maisie’s window piled with snow,
      And spring’s her sleepy yawn,
   But sun’s months urge the wheat to swell –
      And Maisie swells with spawn!
   Bake first fruits loaves, dance fast, dance slow,
   For summer’s breezings force womb’s easings –
      Lord, Maisie’s lungful yell!

====================
© September 2024