54 . October in New Zealand

O JUNE has her diamonds, her diamonds of sheen,

Meet for a queen’s neck, if Death had e’er a queen!

June has her blue days, jewels of delight,

Set in the ivory of Alp-land white,—

But October, October’s the lady o’ the year!

O January’s garland is redder than the rose,

And the wine-red ruby of January glows

All the way to madness and half the way to sin,

When sleep is in the poppy and fire is in the whin!

But October, October’s the lady o’ the year!

October will ride in a mantle o’ the vair,

With the flower o’ the quince in her dew-wet hair;

October will ride to the gates of the day,

With the bluebells ringing on her maiden way;—

For October, October’s the lady o’ the year!