A Tribute To June, Or the Paradox of June

When Juno christened thirty days as hers, She chose the sunniest month and named her June; When roses bloom, and summer, spring transfers A sunny solstice and a strawberry moon. Bedecked with peacock feathers, throned in pearl, The gods’ true queen o’er marriages presides; Her faithful blessings lovers’ hearts encurl, Within her ring, united happiness resides. But in the Antipodes is June reversed, And sun’s delights are turned to winter’s sadness; Across the ‘quator, joyous light’s dispersed, One month, two sides, divorced with utter madness. That good and bad inhabit all’s foregone: Without the darkness there could be no dawn.