October in New Zealand

O June has her diamonds, her diamonds of sheen,
Meet for a queen's neck, if Death had e'er a queen !
June has her blue days, jewels of delight,
Set in the ivory of Alp-land white, —
But October, October 's the lady o' the year !

O January's garland is redder than the rose,
And the wine-red ruby of January glows
All the way to madness and half the way to sin,
When sleep is in the poppy and fire is in the whin !
But October, October 's the lady o' the year !

October will ride in a mantle o' the vair,
With the flower o' the quince in her dew-wet hair ;
October will ride to the gates of the day,
With the bluebells ringing on her maiden way ; —
For October, October 's the lady o' the year !