Classic Poem

January brings the blast,
Hail storms obscure the sky;
Lake and stream are frozen fast;
O'er the ice the skaters fly;
When the winds are gone to rest
Crumbs to pretty Robins throw;
See his soft and ruddy breast
Pillowed on a tuft of snow.

February veiled in clouds
Fills the pool and floods the plain:
Thickest mist the landscape shrowds,
Loosed is every icy chain:
When the sun is faintly beaming
We the golden crocus hail,
While the snowdrops softly gleaming
Shiver in the chilly gale.

Like a lion March comes in,
Ere his going we rejoice,
See the larches robed in green;
Hear the lively chiffchaff's voice;
Hark the breeze is sharp and shrill!
Sowers go to scatter seed;
Celandine and daffodil
With the daisy deck the mead.

April changing every hour
Paints the rainbow in the sky:
Then the bee is in the flow'r
Swallows then are sailing by.
Chaunts at eve the nightingale;
Cuckoo shouts from many a tree;
Primroses and cowslips pale
Bloom o'er every knoll and lea.

May hangs blossoms on the thorn;
Flora then puts on her pride:
Then the flock is washed and shorn,
Cygnets down the river glide.
Then rathe Primrose dies forsaken:
Then the busy turtle sings:
Shepherd boys glad Echo waken;
Fledgelings try their tender wings.

June brings crowds of blushing roses:
New made hay scents many a field;
Heav'n its deepest blue discloses,
Banks the richest odours yields;
Then the cherry blushes brightly:
Little rills are growing dry:
Starry glow-worms glitter nightly;
Butterflies with tulips vie.

In July the sultry hours
Make us seek the sheltered glade;
Honeysuckle, gillyflowers
Shed their fragrance in the shade;
Peonies in flaming knots
Grow beneath the Guernsey rose;
Mellow then are apricots
'Mid the corn the poppy glows.

August brings abundant riches,
Brings the pear and balmy plum,
Nect'rines glow beside the peaches
Then the swelling melons come:
Reapers o'er the sickle bend;
May their task be finished soon!
May no heavy show'r descend
Ere they view the harvest moon!

In September scared by man
Partridges from stubble fly;
Black-cock, grouse and ptarmigan,
Soon 'twill be your turn to die.
Tow'rd the end of mild September
All the fading flowers decline:
We the vintage may remember
While we sip the sparkling wine.

In October bright and clear
Huntsmen love the fox to follow,
Love to chase the flying deer,
Hart and hind with whoop and hollo;
Then the russet medlar's ripe;
Then to gather nuts is pleasant;
Sportsmen shoot the slender snipe,
Woodcocks and the shining pheasant.

Bleak November's sullen sky
Winter's gloomy reign confesses;
Gusty winds relentlessly
Tear the forest's yellow tresses;
Then the air is cold and hazy,
Filled with fog and blinding sleet;
E'en the little simple daisy
Blooms no longer at our feet.

In December we make merry,
Christmas time brings mirth to all;
Holly boughs with scarlet berry
Gaily shine upon the wall.
Then with rosy cups o'erflowing
Let us speed the parting year:
Hope within our bosoms glowing
Hail the future banish fear.