After the May time and after the June time <br />Rare with blossoms and perfume sweet, <br />Cometh the round world's royal noon time, <br />The red midsummer of blazing heat, <br />When the sun, like an eye that never closes, <br />Bends on the earth its fervid gaze, <br />And the winds are still, and the crimson roses <br />Droop and wither and die in its rays. <br />Unto my heart has come this season, <br />O, my lady, my worshiped one, <br />When, over the stars of Pride and Reason, <br />Sails Love's cloudless, noonday sun. <br />Like a great red ball in my bosom burning <br />With fires that nothing can quench or tame, <br />It glows till my heart itself seems turning <br />Into a liquid lake of flame. <br />The hopes half shy and the sighs all tender, <br />The dreams and fears of an earlier day, <br />Under the noontide's royal splendor, <br />Droop like roses, and wither away. <br />From the hills of Doubt no winds are blowing, <br />From the isles of Pain no breeze is sent, - <br />Only the sun in a white heat glowing <br />Over an ocean of great content. <br />Sink, O my soul, in this golden glory! <br />Die, O my heart, in thy rapture-swoon! <br />For the Autumn must come with its mournful story. <br />And Love's midsummer will fade too soon.<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/midsummer-2/
