<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Great May</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Who</span> said the Spring was dead?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She would not come again,</p><p class="line">Dust on her starry head,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For a sad world in pain?</p><p class="line">The thing they have said in vain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She comes new garlanded:</p><p class="line">Lovely on hill and plain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her lights, her flowers are shed.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Never was such a May!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Mercy of God, to prove</p><p class="line">Life springs from the clay</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And every treasured love</p><p class="line">Walks in a heavenly grove.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Lord God's holiday</p><p class="line">To the soft coo of the dove</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With the young lambs at play.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Lo! yours, and yours, are there,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I see them leap and run</p><p class="line">In a May-world past compare</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Whereof our God is sun.</p><p class="line">They rejoice, yea, every one</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the ambient light and air,</p><p class="line">Their pleasures are not done</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">From morn till evening star.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Never was such a Spring!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Oh, you whose eyes are wet,</p><p class="line">Listen, take comforting,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Our God does not forget.</p><p class="line">Poor folk that fear and fret</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Your hours are on the wing</p><p class="line">To the loves that wait you yet,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Raised up and triumphing.</p></div></body></html> · Great War