Oak and Ash and Thorn

Rudyard Kipling

Of all the trees that grow so fair
Old England to adorn
Fairer are none beneath the Sun
Than Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

Oak of the clay saw many a day
Ere ever aneas began
Ash was the loom of a Lady at home
Whan brute was an outlaw man

Thorn of the dance saw New Troy town
From which dear London was born
Witness hereby the ancientry
of Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

Yew that is old in churchyard mold
He breedeth a mighty bow
Alder for shoes do wisemen choose
And Birch for a cup also

But when you have killed and your bowl has spilled
And your shoes are clear outworn
Back you must speed for all that you need
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

Ailim, she hateth mankind and waiteth
Till every gust be laid
To drop a limb on the head of him
Who leastwise trusts her shade

But whether a lad be sober or sad
Or mellow with ale from the Horn
He will take no harm if he lay ere long
Neath Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

Oh do not tell the Priest of our art
For they would call it a sin
But we have been out in the woods all night
A conjurin' Summer in

And we bring you news by word of mouth
Good news for cattle and corn
Now is the Sun come up from the South
With Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn

All the trees that grow so fair
Old England to adorn
Fairer are none beneath the Sun
Than Oak and Ash and Thorn

Sing, Oak and Ash and Thorn good sirs
All on a Midsummer's morn
Surely wesing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn