Poetry Codex

Nature

Mirie It Is While Sumer Ilast

by Anonymous (Middle English) c. 13th–16th century

From Bodleian MS Rawlinson G. 22

NatureTime & Brevity

Mirie it is while sumer ilast
With fugheles song;
Oc nu necheth windes blast
And weder strong.
Ei, ei, what this nicht is long!
And ich with wel michel wrong
Soregh and murne and fast.

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Codex Note

Seven lines on a summer ended and a winter night that is too long, dated about 1225: among the earliest secular songs in English. Text from E. K. Chambers and F. Sidgwick, Early English Lyrics (1907).

Cite this poem

MLA

Anonymous (Middle English). “Mirie It Is While Sumer Ilast.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/0/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Middle English). “Mirie It Is While Sumer Ilast.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/0/.

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