Oh, for You that I never knew ! —
Now that the Spring is swelling,
And over the way is a whitening may,
In the yard of my neighbor’s dwelling.

Oh, may, oho! do your sisters blow
Out there in the country grasses —
A-mocking the white of the cloudlet light,
That up in the blue sky passes?

Here in town the grass it is brown,
Right under your beautiful clusters;
But your sisters thrive where the sward’s alive
With emerald lights and lustres.

Dream of my dreams! vision that seems
Ever to scorn my praying,
Love that I wait, face of my fate,
Come with me now a-maying!

Soul of my song! all my life long
Looking for you I wander~
Long have I sought — shall I find naught,
Under the may-bushes yonder?

Oh, for You that I never knew,
Only in dreams that bind you! —
By Spring’s own grace I shall know your face,
When under the may I find you!