Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900/Cuckoo Song

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Sumer is icumen in (anonymous).

c. 1250

SUMER is icumen in,
⁠Lhude^[1] sing cuccu!
Groweth sed, and bloweth med,
⁠And springth the wude nu—
⁠Sing cuccu!

Awe bleteth after lomb,
⁠Lhouth^[2] after calve cu;
Bulluc sterteth,^[3] bucke verteth,
⁠Murie sing cuccu!

Cuccu, cuccu, well singes thu, cuccu:
⁠Ne swike^[4] thu naver nu;
Sing cuccu, nu, sing cuccu,
⁠Sing cuccu, sing cuccu, nu!

 

1. lhude] loud.
2. lhouth] loweth.
3. sterteth] leaps
4. swike] cease.

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