CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS EVE by Robert Herrick

      

Stanton Moor Derbyshire February 2010

 DOWN with the rosemary and bays,

           Down with the mistletoe;

       Instead of holly, now up-raise

           The greener box (for show).

       The holly hitherto did sway;

           Let box now domineer

       Until the dancing Easter day,

           Or Easter's eve appear.

       Then youthful box which now hath grace

           Your houses to renew;

       Grown old, surrender must his place

           Unto the crisped yew.

       When yew is out, then birch comes in,

           And many flowers beside ;

       Both of a fresh and fragrant kin

           To honour Whitsuntide.

       Green rushes, then, and sweetest bents,

           With cooler oaken boughs,

       Come in for comely ornaments

           To re-adorn the house.

Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold;

New things succeed, as former things grow old.

Source:

Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II.

Alfred Pollard, ed. London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 104-105.

Stanton Moor Derbyshire February 2010