Now is the Month of Maying

"To the May-pole let us on,
The time is swift and will be gone!"

"All fair lasses have lads to attend 'em,
Jolly, brave dancers who can amend 'em."

"Come together, come, sweet lass,
Let us trip it on the grass."

- Traditional Bryn Mawr May Day Song, last heard by me (and probably frumiousb) on Grand May Day, 1990.  The one day when Mawrters wear white. 

This morning, though, the greeny grass in my part of the southern Berkshires, or northern Litchfield Hills if you prefer, is white with hoarfrost.  Even the hardy spring ephemerals are drooping from the cold.  It is shaping up to be a chilly day but bright and clear.  If I do end up tripping it on the grass with my sweet lass, we'll likely be bundled up.

Comments

[Tim Abbott]

I sang the first tenor part of that classic Morley Madrigal! And a very happy birthday!

[Tour Marm]

Here's my favorite May song:

Now is the month of Maying,
When merry lads are playing,
Fa la la la la.

Each with his bonny lass,
upon the greeny grass,
Fa la la la la.

The Spring clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter´s sadness,
Fa la la la la.

And to the bagpipes sound,
The nymphs tread out their ground,
Fa la la la la.

Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth´s sweet delight refusing?
Fa la la la la.

Say dainty nymphs and speak,
shall we play Barley break?
Fa la la la la.

Note: There are usually more Fa la la la la's.

I love May and the 6th is my birthday!

[Talya Leodari]

http://www.brynmawr.edu/videos/MayDay/mayday.html.

Just in case you want to hear the May Day song again... (make sure your computer's volume is on)