O JUNE has her diamonds, her diamonds of sheen, <br />Meet for a queen’s neck, if Death had e’er a queen! <br />June has her blue days, jewels of delight, <br />Set in the ivory of Alp-land white,— <br />But October, October’s the lady o’ the year! <br /> <br />O January’s garland is redder than the rose, <br />And the wine-red ruby of January glows <br />All the way to madness and half the way to sin, <br />When sleep is in the poppy and fire is in the whin! <br />But October, October’s the lady o’ the year! <br /> <br />October will ride in a mantle o’ the vair, <br />With the flower o’ the quince in her dew-wet hair; <br />October will ride to the gates of the day, <br />With the bluebells ringing on her maiden way;— <br />For October, October’s the lady o’ the year!<br /><br />Jessie Mackay<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/october-in-new-zealand/
