Midsummer Day in England
A thousand years ago this England drew
Into her magic circle Robin, Puck,
Friar Rush, the Jester—all the wizard crew
That foot it through the mazes for good luck.
Flyting and frisking through the Sussex lanes
They watched the Roman legions come and go,
And the tall ships that once were kingly Spain’s
Driven like drifting snow.
Midsummer Day in England! Faery bells
Blue as the skies—and wheat-fields poppy-sown.
Queen Mab’s own roses—hawthorn-scented dells,
And marshes where the bittern broods alone.
Bees of this garden, over Salisbury Plain
The circling airships drone!