Best Sumer Poems

Sumer is icumen in
a modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

This is an update of an old classic for those of us who suffer with hay fever and other allergies ...

Sumer is icumen in
Lhude sing achu!
Groweth sed
And bloweth hed
And buyeth med?
Cuccu!

Keywords/Tags: spring, summer, seasons, hay...

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Sumer is icumen in

anonymous Middle English poem, circa 1260 AD
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Summer is a-comin'!
Sing loud, cuckoo!
The seed grows,
The meadow blows,
The woods spring up anew.
Sing, cuckoo!

The ewe bleats for her lamb;
The cows contentedly moo;
The bullock roots;
The billy-goat poots ...
Sing merrily, cuckoo!

Cuckoo, cuckoo,
You sing...

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down my window
translucent weeping showers-
a mosaic of reflections....

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Enheduanna is the first writer we know by name. She created the first poetry anthology and hymnal, circa 2250 BC, in ancient Sumer. She was the daughter of King Saragon the Great. 

Lament to the Spirit of War
by Enheduanna
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

You hack...

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South of Sahara the winter arrives
Bouquet of warblers has already left
Flying to warmer climes where they will thrive
Focused on summer winter not bereft.

Small Willow Warblers sing delightful song
They make our summer completely complete
Early one morning after journey long
There's a song in the Blackthorn Oh! so...

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