OH, for You that I never knew!—
  Now that the Spring is swelling,
And over the way is a whitening may,
  In the yard of my neighbor's dwelling.

Oh, may, oho! do your sisters blow
  Out there in the country grasses—
A-mocking the white of the cloudlet light,
  That up in the blue sky passes?

Here in town the grass it is brown,
  Right under your beautiful clusters;
But your sisters thrive where the sward's alive
  With emerald lights and lustres.

Dream of my dreams! vision that seems
  Ever to scorn my praying,
Love that I wait, face of my fate,
  Come with me now a-maying!

Soul of my song! all my life long
  Looking for you I wander;
Long have I sought— shall I find naught,
  Under the may-bushes yonder?

Oh, for You that I never knew,
  Only in dreams that bind you!—
By Spring's own grace I shall know your face,
  When under the may I find you!