May

by Christina Rossetti

A complete poem from Poems (1876 author’s edition). Original wording and verse line breaks are preserved.

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Poetry Classic literature Poems (1876 author’s edition)

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I cannot tell you how it was; But this I know: it came to pass Upon a bright and breezy day When May was young; ah, pleasant May! As yet the poppies were not born Between the blades of tender corn; The last eggs had not hatched as yet, Nor any bird foregone its mate. I cannot tell you what it was; But this I know: it did but pass. It passed away with sunny May, With all sweet things it passed away, And left me old, and cold, and gray.

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About this edition

Text source: Project Gutenberg
Author: Christina Rossetti
Language: English
Text rights: Public domain — original text
Credit: Christina Rossetti, “May”, from Poems (1876 author’s edition). Original public-domain poem; source Project Gutenberg #19188. This historical edition’s wording is retained. Surrounding anthology, editorial material and illustrations omitted; text reformatted for reading. Source metadata identifies public domain in the USA.

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