Love
Western Wind
From Royal Appendix MS 58
Western wind, when will thou blow,
The small rain down can rain?
Christ, if my love were in my arms
And I in my bed again!
Codex Note
Four lines found in a music manuscript of the early sixteenth century (British Museum, Royal Appendix 58) and among the most famous English lyrics of longing; its tune later served for several Mass settings. The 1907 editors modernised its spelling. Text from E. K. Chambers and F. Sidgwick, Early English Lyrics (1907).
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Middle English). “Western Wind.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/25/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Middle English). “Western Wind.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-middle-english/25/.
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