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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Song on May Morning – 2 May 2009
By Mary T. Hoffman

John Milton was an English poet who is most famous for his religious epic Paradise Lost. Here are two versions (with my explanatory notes) of his poem about the month of May.

Song on May Morning
John Milton (1608–1674)

Now the bright morning Star, Dayes harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowry May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing,
Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcom thee, and wish thee long.

(Note: This spelling and punctuation is as close to the original as we could ascertain.)

Song on May Morning
John Milton (1608–1674)

Now the bright morning Star, Day’s harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth and warm desire!
Woods and Groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and Dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee and wish thee long.

(Note: Some of the spelling and punctuation has been changed or “modernized” in this version.)

For a large collection of poems and stories, visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/poetrydir.html

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