and let us all unite,
For Summer's a-comin' today
And whither we are going we all will unite
In the merry morning of May
Women:
I warn you, young men,
Every one,
For Summer's a-comin' today
To go to the Greenwood and fetch you May home
In the merry morning of May
Men:
O rise up, Our Queen
All in your gown of silk,
For Summer's a-comin' today
And all your body under's as white as any milk
In the merry morning of May
Women:
O rise up, Our King,
And joy you betide
For summer's a-comin' today
And bright is the Bride that sits by Your side
In the merry morning of May
All:
Now fare you well
We bid you all good cheer
For Summer's a-comin' today
and whither we are going we all will unite
in the merry morning of May
I awakened to this song in my head this morning, and thought of the Berkeley Morris dancing up the Sun in the wee hours of this morning at Berkeley's Tilden Park.
I thought of my friends from two years ago who joined me in a Maypole Dance in Honolulu's Kapi'olani Park. Kelly was the May King - don't you love her cloak billowing in the breeze?
I also think of Anna Applegate, the May Queen of Kapi'olani, when we danced together around the pole and posed for this picture:
As I remember, it was very windy that day, and keeping the May Pole (a 30 foot freshly cut bamboo stalk) stationary was quite a feat:
A picture our Maypole revelers as we tied the pole and weaved our upcoming summer dreams into it:
Afterwards, the cameraman caught me in a happy moment before sunset:
And in a more pensive moment:
But we did it - we ushered in the traditional first day of summer on the windy Sunday afternoon of April 30, 2006.
2009 in Tilden Park, Berkeley!
Thank you, cameraman Frank, for the great photos!