When daisies pied and violets blue,
and ladysmocks all silverwhite,
and cuckoobuds of yellow hue
do paint the meadows with delight.
The cuckoo then, on ev'ry tree,
mocks married men, for thus sings he:
Cuckoo, ...O word of fear, Cuckoo,
unpleasing to a married ear!

When shepherds pipe on oaten straws
and merry larks are ploughman's clocks,
when turtles tread and rooks and daws,
and maidens bleach their summer smocks,
The cuckoo then ....

Whenas the rye reach to the chin,
and chopcherry ripe within,
and strawberries swimming in the cream,
and schoolboys playing in the stream;
Then oh, then my true love said,
until that time should come again
she could not live a maid.
Cuckoo, ...O word of fear