The May Queen

The May Queen.
BY ALFRED TENNYSON.
83.6

You must wake and call me early; call me early.
mother dear:
Tomorrow’ll be the happiest time of all the glad
new year
Of all the glad new year, mother; the maddest.
merriest day:
For I’m to be Queen of the May, mother; I’m to be
Queen of the May.

There’s many a black eye, they say, but none go
bright as mine:
There’s Margaret and Mary, there’s Kate and
Caroline;
But none so fair as little Alice in all the land,
they say,
So I’m to be Queen of the May, mother; I’m to be
Queen of the May.

I sleep so sound alt night, mother, that I shall
never wake
If you do not call me loud when the day begins to
break;
But I must gather knots of flowers and buds and
garlands gay,
For I’m to be Qucen o’ the May, mother; I’m to ba
Queen of the May.

As I came up the valley, whom think ye should
I see
But Robin, leaning on the bridge beneath the
hazel tree?
He thought of that sharp look, mother, I gave him
yesterday
But I’m to be Queen of the May, mother; I’m to ba
Queen of the May…
They say he’s dying all for love, but that can
never be;
They say his heart is breaking, mother-what is
that to me?
There’s many a bolder lad will woo me any sum-
mer day,
For I’m to be Queen of the May, mother; I’m to be
Queen of the May.
Little Effle shall go with me tomorrow to the
green,
And you’ll be there, too, mother, to see me made
the Queen:
For the shepherd lads on every side will come from
far awayー
And I’m to be Queen of the May, mother; I’m to ba
Queen of the May.