Cherries of the night are riper
Than the cherries pluckt at noon
Gather to your fairy piper
When he pipes his magic tune:
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
Under the moon.
And you’ll be fairies soon.
In the cherry pluckt at night,
With the dew of summer swelling,
There’s a juice of pure delight,
Cool, dark, sweet, divinely smelling.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
In the moonlight.
And you’ll be fairies quite.
When I sound the fairy call,
Gather here in silent meeting,
Chin to knee on the orchard wall,
Cooled with dew and cherries eating.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter.
For the eater
When the dews fall.
And you’ll be fairies all.
(Robert Graves)
Sour Cherries photographed this morning
at the Yppen Platz Farmers' Market
16th District
Image © by Merisi
I've always been a fan of Robert Graves but somehow I missed this poem. Quite magical!
ReplyDeleteVicki,
Deletewhenever cherries are back in season, memories of this poem appear like magic.
Ah cherries, my favourite fruit. I love the way a Viennese baker near me pronounces the word too; even if I didn't love them I think I'd order a cherry danish just to hear her say it. Love the photo and the poem, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard her pronounce the word "Kirschen"?
ReplyDeleteYou remind me that I have not yet had a piece of cherry strudel!
Love eating cherries and putting double ones (joint by their stems) over my ears for cherry earrings :-)
ReplyDeleteUmmm, makes my mouth water, Merisi.
ReplyDeleteTerrific magical poem too.
I can't wait for the cherries to get ripe that are on our tree.