Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918/Cuckoo Song

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Sumer is icumen in (anonymous).

ANONYMOUS

c. 1226

SUMER is icumen in,
    Lhude^[1] sing cuccu!
Groweth sed, and bloweth med,
    And springeth the wude nu—
                Sing cuccu!

Awe^[2] bleteth after lomb,
    Lhouth^[3] after calve cu;
Bulluc sterteth,^[4] bucke verteth,
    Murie sing cuccu!

Cuccu, cuccu, well singes thu, cuccu:
    Ne swike^[5] thu naver nu;
Sing cuccu, nu, sing cuccu,
    Sing cuccu, sing cuccu, nu!

 

1. lhude] loud.
2. awe] ewe.
3. lhouth] loweth.
4. sterteth] leaps.
5. swike] cease.