Introductory material

June lavishes sweet-scented loveliness And sprinkles sunfilled wine on everything; The very leaves grow drunk with bliss and sing And every breeze becomes a soft caress. All earthly things felicity confess And fairies dance in many a moonlit ring; The fleetfoot hours fresh wealth of joyaunce bring; Life wears her gayest rose-embroidered dress. Kind June, why bear these golden gifts to me? All winter long I hear the throstle’s tune, All winter long red roses I can see, Reading the while Love’s ancient magic rune. In Love’s fair garden-close I wander free, So take your guerdon elsewhere, lovely June.