The village youths lightheartedly <br />Dance to the tabor and the flute, <br />Dance to the piper and the lute, <br />To celebrate Midsummer’s Day. <br /> <br />Every lad with shining eyes <br />Looks upon each comely girl, <br />Looks at her with skirts a-whirl, <br />And he with longing, softly sighs. <br /> <br />But suddenly in their midst appears <br />A strange young maid with long, dark hair, <br />A strange young maid with features fair, <br />Far fairer than their village dears. <br /> <br />And all the young men gather ‘round, <br />Hoping each to have a dance; <br />Hoping each to find romance, <br />To the music’s sensuous sound. <br /> <br />The stranger takes in turn each lad, <br />Past the villagers she whirls; <br />Past the glowering of the girls, <br />Each lad, with love for her is mad. <br /> <br />And when the music begins to slow, <br />She chooses John from all the rest; <br />She chooses John who she likes best; <br />Holding hands, they lightly go <br /> <br />Away from the music and the play, <br />Through the fields and wooded bowers; <br />Through the meadows bright with flowers, <br />Leads she John Midsummer’s Day. <br /> <br />And it’s been many a year since then, <br />Since the Moor-Maid danced with John; <br />Since they danced and then were gone, <br />And John returned never again. <br /> <br />Out on the moors there is a spring; <br />If you look inside, they say, <br />If you look Midsummer’s Day, <br />You’ll see a young lad struggling; <br /> <br />Down, down, deep down inside, <br />Struggling, with silent scream; <br />Struggling as in a dream; <br />Forever there he must abide.<br /><br />John Bliven Morin<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-moor-maiden/
