Oracle of Spring

Cuckoo, thou prophetic bird,

Blossom-songster! hear the word

Of a youthful loving pair,

In the sweetest time of year,

Do, thou charming warbler, thou,

May they hope? sing to them now,

Thy cuckoo, thy cuckoo,

And again cuckoo, cuckoo.

Hear! a loving pair demand

At the altar soon to stand;

They are in the bloom of youth,

Full of love, and full of truth.

Say, will it be soon or late?

How long will they have to wait?

Hark! cuckoo! hark! cuckoo!

Silent now? 'tis only two!

Mine is not the fault, nor hers,

Patience but for two more years!

But, when we are one become,

Will pa pa papas e'er come?

We'll rejoice if thou but criest,

And us many prophesiest,

One! cuckoo! two! cuckoo!

And again, cuckoo, cuckoo, coo.

If we counted rightly, near

Half a dozen 'twould appear.

Wilt thou, if fair words we give,

Say how long we have to live?

True, we fain would, if we can,

Live life's very longest span.

Coo, cuckoo, coo, cuckoo,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, &c.

Life is a great jubilee

When it cannot reckoned be.

If we e'er old age attain,

Will our faithful love remain?

O, if that should e'er be o'er,

Nought on earth were lovely more:

Coo, cuckoo, coo, cuckoo,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, &c.

(gracefully in infinitum.)