Bridal Dress For the Hawthorn Tree

BRIDAL DRESS FOR THE HAWTHORN TREE In the church garden fair, One glorious May day near the ides - Blossom on gown and hair Flowing, floating down her sides, Bosom and bouquet - the bride’s Glowing in the warm spring embrace Of her golden groom. She flowers With bloom on her cheeks and face; Then, in light petalled showers, She fills the wood’s fragrant bowers: Blossom-confetti litters and turns To white the path through her roots unseen. Then the hawthorn tree returns Again to her everyday working green - From her role as May Queen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . NOTE The hawthorn tree in bloom with white flowers in spring is a beautiful sight, but lasts only a short time, like a wedding celebration. Hawthorn trees are known as May trees, and they appear in the proverb “Cast ne’er a clout till May is out.” Many people think this means you must keep wearing winter clothers till the end of the month of May, but it really means until the May tree’s blossom-flowers are out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Written by Sydney Peck 2 February 2012 Entered in Francine Roberts's Contest "English quintain a spring day"