June Song

Oh, it's holiday time

And we'll make a new rhyme

High keyed to a rollicking tune --

There'll be murmuring of trees

In the soft summer breeze

And a slave of welcome to June.

You can whistle this air

As you clamber up there

Where zephyrs catch up the refrain;

Where the tang of the pine

Is as tonic as wine

And the cataract shivers to rain.

Or go humming our song

As we're scudding along

In fleet-flying tippecanoe,

While the dip of the oar

Scatters ripples ashore

And the world is made only for you.

Come, follow my flight,

We will sing our delight,

Tip-toe and atop of the hill;

Where flowers aflame

In the gold and the rain

Are the note of our lyrical trill.

At the edge of the wood

Where the Driads have stood,

Enthralled at the glory of day,

We will fashion our tune

In a garland for June,

Then toss it away and away!

And our song will come back,

Ah, alas and alack!

In some sad autumn day of the year;

When we live at a time

That our echoing rhyme

Can evoke but a sigh or a tear!

(First published in Along the Lane: Dedicated to the memory of Thomas William Larsen, who lost his life in World War II)