Villanelle

The daffodils are on the lea—
Come out, sweetheart, and bless the sun!
The birds are glad, and so are we.

This morn a throstle piped to me,
“’Tis time that mates were wooed and won—
The daffodils are on the lea.”

Come out, sweetheart, their gold to see,
And building of the nests begun—
The birds are glad, and so are we.

You said,—bethink you!—“It shall be
When, yellow smocked, and winter done,
The daffodils are on the lea.”

Yet, an’ you will, to change be free!
How sigh you?—“Changes need we none—
The birds are glad—and so are we?”

Come out, sweetheart! the signs agree,
The marriage tokens March has spun—
The daffodils are on the lea;
The birds are glad—and so are we!

May Probyn.