Three little variations on the theme of cherry trees.
The first, and best known, is by A E Housman; the others are Scots and English versions of a poem from Maurice Lindsay’s Bairnsangs, his suite of children’s songs, set so charmingly by the composer Thea Musgrave.
LOVELIEST OF TREES, THE CHERRY NOW
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with blooms along the bough,
And stands above the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
THE GEAN
Aa the trees are dansan wi the winds of Spring
Ilka green leaf glancan in a hielan fling.
Abies thonder geantree sae leddylik and prood
Tosht up for aa the lave tae see wi tossils o a clood.
THE WILD CHERRY TREE
All the trees are dancing with the winds of Spring
Ev’ry green leaf glancing in a highland fling.
Except for yonder cherry tree so ladylike and proud
Dressed up for all the rest to see with tassels of a cloud.
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