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Home  »  Parnassus  »  William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

Ralph Waldo Emerson, comp. (1803–1882). Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. 1880.

First of May

William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

(See full text.)

WHILE from the purpling east departs

The star that led the dawn,

Blithe Flora from her couch upstarts,

For May is on the lawn.

A quickening hope, a freshening glee,

Foreran the expected power,

Whose first-drawn breath, from bush and tree,

Shakes off that pearly shower.

All Nature welcomes her whose sway

Tempers the year’s extremes;

Who scattereth lustres o’er noonday,

Like morning’s dewy gleams;

While mellow warble, sprightly trill,

The tremulous heart excite;

And hums the balmy air to still

The balance of delight.

Time was, blest Power! when youths and maids

At peep of dawn would rise,

And wander forth, in forest glades

Thy birth to solemnize.

Though mute the song—to grace the rite

Untouched the hawthorn bough,

Thy spirit triumphs o’er the slight;

Man changes, but not thou!

Thy feathered lieges bill and wings

In love’s disport employ.

Warmed by thy influence, creeping things

Awake to silent joy:

Queen art thou still for each gay plant

Where the slim wild deer roves;

And served in depths where fishes haunt

Their own mysterious groves.

*****

And if, on this thy natal morn,

The pole, from which thy name

Hath not departed, stands forlorn

Of song and dance and game,

Still from the village-green a vow

Aspires to thee addrest,

Wherever peace is on the brow,

Or love within the breast.

Yes! where love nestles thou canst teach

The soul to love the more;

Hearts also shall thy lessons reach

That never loved before.

Stript is the haughty one of pride,

The bashful freed from fear,

While rising, like the ocean-tide,

In flows the joyous year.

Hush, feeble lyre! weak words, refuse

The service to prolong!

To yon exulting thrush the Muse

Intrusts the imperfect song;

His voice shall chant, in accents clear,

Throughout the livelong day,

Till the first silver star appear,

The sovereignty of May.