Classic Poem

O here is Paradise for me
With white does bounding,
And here the fair immortal Tree
With various fruits abounding.

Hesperidean apples gold,
And apples red as wine,
And gourds that show like moons below,
And silver pears that shine.

O sweeter, sweeter, every one
Than mead the gods have drunk,
And all are for the Shepherd's Son
Who leans against the trunk.

And there he'll stay, the timeless day,
Where no harsh wind can find him,
His crook among the strawberry leaves,
And woven woods behind him.

There roam the strange and savage beasts;
No peace their fear will grant them
Until he play his roundelay
And music shall enchant them.

Now, in the dark arcaded wood
Every creature still is stood;
Each one pricks a happy ear,
Tirlee, Tirlow, his song to hear.

Out of the branching wood come they
All for his silver roundelay,
Out of the wood on dancing feet
So to obey his music sweet.

Here the gentled Tiger goes
By the delicate, dancing Does;
Here the Stag with golden horns
And the prancing Unicorns.

Conies gambol out of the rocks,
Leveret with tawny Fox;
Leaping Lambs desert their folds,
Frogs dance out of the marigolds.

Here appear in lumbering bounds
Great King Theseus' dew-lapped Hounds;
Here his white, unharnessed Steed
Comes curvetting over the mead.

Here with jewelled tails aglow
Peacocks gloriously go;
Here the swinging Monkey gets
Purple grapes for castanets.

Caterpillars striped and green
Measuring up the twigs are seen;
Asp with spotted Adder weaves,
Harmless, in and out the leaves.

Dove and Hawk with folded wing
On the fruited branches swing;
Hovering, dipping, dancing rise
Honey-bees and Butterflies.

All Creation, safe and free,
Sings around the Happy Tree.
Tirlee, Tirlow, and Ut Hoy,
Play for ever, Shepherd Boy.