Alabama, 1918. 31 



» 



HO FOR THE ROAD AND THE DAYS OF JUNE 



■♦^♦■ 



OVER the hills and through the plain 

 The road, like a ribbon of dusty gray, 

 Winds past fields of budding grain 



And meadows sweet with unmown hay ; 

 Like children singing at their play 

 To the tilt and laugh of a vagrant rune. 

 These bands of roving gipsies stray — 

 Ho for the road and the days of June ! 



The meadowlark, with soft refrain, 



Sings in the clover the livelong day, 

 And the robin-lover chants again 



His unforgotten hymn of May; 



Against the turquoise sky a spray 

 Of appleblossoms shines at noon. 



Breathing scent too sweet to stay — 

 Ho for the road and the days of June ! 



The rover builds his castles in Spain 



For none may tell the dreamer nay. 

 Through shadow, sun, or summer rain 



His heart still beats to the gipsy lay. 



Oh, Prince of Poverty, show us the way 

 To find and follow the magic tune ; 



Give us the charm and teach us to say 

 Ho for the road and the days in June ! 



% 



