Farewell, Sweet May

She gathers up her luscious loom

Her floral brush and blossomed broom

While laughing zephyrs from the south

Inhale the lilacs in her mouth

The yellow dandelion hill

Exhales its froth of silver swill

The scepter of soft azure noon

Passes into the clasp of June

She smiles and while we drink her charm

She gathers in each outstretched arm

The blossoms from the cherry tree

The tulip’s lilting melody

And as our smiles are teased and kissed

She mingles with the purple mist

Where wild phlox line the ditch and dune

May slips into the garb of June

There is no dirge for her demise

For who can weep beneath June’s skies

And who can keep love’s tender grief

Where earth expands its emerald sheaf

Against the backdrop of farewell

We hear June’s leaf-song anthem swell

As summer-hearts embrace the tune

Of May’s departure greeting June

We cannot trace the path she treads

Or keep the petals that she sheds

But we can dance a little while

Beneath the sunshine of her smile

And we can cling to spring's fair hope

That somewhere on Time's season-slope

She waits until that hour when

Sweet May will pass this way again

© Janet Martin

 Today I had a moment to mourn the departure of May...