Happy Summer Solstice!

The official change of the seasons. I’ll oblige with some appropriate versification from the Middle Ages–in the original Middle English. (The modern translation is a touch … earthier than expected!)

Red Poppies at Argenteuil, Claude Monet
Red Poppies at Argenteuil, Claude Monet

Sumer is icumen in,
Loude sing cuckou!
Groweth seed and bloweth meed,
And springeth the wode now.
Sing cuckou!

Ewe bleteth after lamb,
Loweth after calve cow,
Bulloc sterteth, bucke verteth,
Merye sing cuckou!
Cuckou, cuckou,
Wel singest thou cuckou:
Ne swik thou never now!

Leave a comment