The arches of desire have spanned
The barren ways, the debt is paid,
The spring is passing through the land
In web of ghostly green arrayed.
Sweet scents along the winds are fanned
From shadowy wood and secret glade
Where beauty blossoms unafraid,
The spring is passing through the land
In web of ghostly green arrayed
And blood is warm in man and maid.
II
Proud insolent June with burning lips
Holds riot now from sea to sea,
And shod in sovran gold is she.
To the full flood of reaping slips
The seeding-tide by God’s decree,
Proud insolent June with burning lips
Holds riot now from sea to sea.
And all the goodly fellowships
Of bird and bloom and beast and tree
Are gallant of her company—
Proud insolent June with burning lips
Holds riot now from sea to sea,
And shod in sovran gold is she.
III
The loaded sheaves are harvested,
The sheep are in the stubbled fold,
The tale of labour crowned is told.
The wizard of the year has spread
A glory over wood and wold,
The loaded sheaves are harvested,
The sheep are in the stubbled fold.
The yellow apples and the red
Bear down the boughs, the hazels hold
No more their fruit in cups of gold.
The loaded sheaves are harvested,
The sheep are in the stubbled fold,
The tale of labour crowned is told.