May

Listen to:

May (:36)

by Sara Teasdale 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The wind is tossing the lilacs,
The new leaves laugh in the sun,
And the petals fall on the orchard wall,
But for me the spring is done.

Beneath the apple blossoms
I go a wintry way,
For love that smiled in April
Is false to me in May. 

The Last of April

"Raindrops Falling on Green Grasses" by Jennie Marie Schell

Listen to:

The Last of April (1:09)

by John Clare 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

Old April wanes, and her last dewy morn

Her death-bed steeps in tears:--to hail the May

New blooming blossoms 'neath the sun are born,

And all poor April's charms are swept away.

The early primrose, peeping once so gay,

Is now chok'd up with many a mounting weed,

And the poor violet we once admir'd

Creeps in the grass unsought for--flowers succeed,

Gaudy and new, and more to be desired,

And of the old the school-boy seemeth tired.

So with us all, poor April, as with thee!

Each hath his day;--the future brings my fears:

Friends may grow weary, new flowers rising be,

And my last end, like thine, be steep'd in tears.

To His Coy Love

Listen to:

To His Coy Love (1:29)

by Michael Drayton 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

I pray thee, leave, love me no more,

  Call home the heart you gave me!

I but in vain that saint adore

  That can but will not save me.

These poor half-kisses kill me quite—

  Was ever man thus servèd?

Amidst an ocean of delight

  For pleasure to be starvèd?

Show me no more those snowy breasts

  With azure riverets branchèd,

Where, whilst mine eye with plenty feasts,

  Yet is my thirst not stanchèd;

O Tantalus, thy pains ne'er tell!

  By me thou art prevented:

'Tis nothing to be plagued in Hell,

  But thus in Heaven tormented.

Clip me no more in those dear arms,

  Nor thy life's comfort call me,

O these are but too powerful charms,

  And do but more enthral me!

But see how patient I am grown

  In all this coil about thee:

Come, nice thing, let my heart alone,

  I cannot live without thee!

Aware

Listen to:

Aware (:41)

by David Herbert Lawrence 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

Slowly the moon is rising out of the ruddy haze,
Divesting herself of her golden shift, and so
Emerging white and exquisite; and I in amaze
See in the sky before me, a woman I did not know
I loved, but there she goes and her beauty hurts my heart;
I follow her down the night, begging her not to depart.