Red may and white may shine
All round the lawn,
Lilac and golden-rain
Show there at dawn:
There the big chestnuts stand
In a great row,
Mountains where fairies build
Castles of snow:
Down all the grassy slopes
Cowslips are gay,
Green banks are yellow where
Primroses stray.
Pear-bloom and plum now lie
Thick on the trees,
Cherry with lighter hold
Stirs in the breeze.
Now from their leafy beds
Lilies do bring
Rarest of all the rare
Perfumes of Spring.
Set all your seedlings out,
May sun is strong,
Through all the garden beds
Spread them along.
Carefully weed, and then
Sow mignonette,
Pinks and sweet-williams ere
May month has set.