To Mistress Margaret Hussey

By John Skelton

1460?-1529


MERRY Margaret
         As midsummer flower,
         Gentle as falcon
         Or hawk of the tower:
With solace and gladness,
Much mirth and no madness,
All good and no badness;
         So joyously,
         So maidenly,
         So womanly
         Her demeaning
         In every thing,
         Far, far passing
         That I can indite,
         Or suffice to write
         Of Merry Margaret
         As midsummer flower,
         Gentle as falcon
         Or hawk of the tower.
         As patient and still
         And as full of good will
         As fair Isaphill,
         Coliander,
         Sweet pomander,
         Good Cassander;
         Steadfast of thought,
         Well made, well wrought,
         Far may be sought,
         Ere that ye can find
         So courteous, so kind
         As merry Margaret,
         This midsummer flower,
         Gentle as falcon
         Or hawk of the tower.

DayPoems Poem No. 34
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/34.html">To Mistress Margaret Hussey by John Skelton</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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