Lyr Req/Add: Ballad of the Maytime (A Christie)

Subject: Ballad of the Maytime
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 11 May 02 - 03:50 PM

Apparently by Agatha Christie! also called "Wild Bluebell".

If anyone has a copy of her poems and can post the words I would be very grateful.

How are you all by the way? I havent been here in ages :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 May 02 - 03:57 PM

I found references to it, but not the poem itsself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 11 May 02 - 04:02 PM

Thanx Sorcha,

Its not anywhere on the web and the book is out of print (unless you have $130 for a rare edition :( )

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 May 02 - 04:07 PM

I have a friend who is an Agatha Addict; she is out of town right now and I don't know if she has the poetry stuff. When she gets home I'll ask her.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 11 May 02 - 07:39 PM

You may have tried this, but see if your local public library can Inter-Library Loan it for you. If you are sure of the book title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 May 02 - 08:26 PM

Which book? Poems? My Flower garden?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 May 02 - 08:34 PM

Poems, Vol. 1. I found that much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 May 02 - 09:47 PM

Found a copy for only >>>$$$ 50 $$$<<< American dollars. If it is in "My Flower Garden," the price is about $20. The alternate title of the poem suggests it may be in this volume as well. Now all we need is a Wandering Rich Minstrel.

There is a silent eloquence
In every wild bluebell,
That fills my softened Heart with bliss,
That words could never tell.
-------- ------- -------
But as I looked upon the bank,
My wandering glances fell
Upon a little trembling flower,
A single, sweet bluebell.

What? No substitutes? Even from the Brontë's?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 12 May 02 - 10:37 AM

Nope thats not it

its about a king who falls in love with the wild bluebell dancing in the woods..

but thanx anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 May 02 - 12:18 PM

There is a copy of the book (includes both original vols.) at half.com for $49.00 and you can e mail the seller to ask questions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 17 May 02 - 03:08 PM

For anyone who might still be looking, I have it!

Christie quotes it in full on p339 of her autobiography kindly reserved for me by the local library.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: MMario
Date: 17 May 02 - 03:09 PM

post it! post it! post it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 May 02 - 04:46 PM

Post it! post it! post it!. The mudcats await.

Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF THE MAYTIME (Agatha Christie)
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 20 May 02 - 02:17 PM

OK! you forced me into it :)

The king he went a walking on a a merry morn in May
he laid him down to rest a while and fell asleep they say
And when he woke twas evening (the hour of magic mood)
When Bluebell, wild Bluebell dances in the wood

The King he gave a banquet for all the flowers(save one)
And hungrily he watched them with eyes for one alone
The rose was there in velvet, the lilly in green hood
But Bluebell, wild bluebell was dancing in the wood

The King he rose in anger with his hand upon his sword
He sent his men to find her and bring her to their lord
They bound her up in silken cords, before the throne she stood
Bluebell, wild Bluebell who dances in the wood

The King he rose to greet the maid that he had sworn to wed
the king took off his golden crown and placed it on her head
But then stood back in horror at the courtiers waxen stare
At Bluebell wild Blubell so pale and ghostly there

Oh King your crown is heavy twould fill my heart with care
The palace walls would bind me in who lives as free as air
The sun he is my lover, the wind my lover too
And Bluebell, wild Bluebell will ne'er be queen to you.

The king he mourned a twelvemonth but none could ease his pain
the king he went a walking along a lovers lane
Then he laid down his golden crown, into the woods went he
where Bluebell, wild Bluebell dances ever wild and free.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: MMario
Date: 20 May 02 - 02:30 PM

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of the Maytime
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 May 02 - 02:49 PM

And thanks again!

Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF THE MAYTIME (Agatha Christie)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 15 - 12:15 PM

Thirteen years in I'm reading the autobiography, and the poem typed above isn't the same as the one I have read.
Here it is



The King, he went a-walking, one merry morn in May.
The King, he laid him down to rest, and fell asleep, they say.
And when he woke, 'twas even,
(The hour of magic mood)
And Bluebell, wild Bluebell, was dancing in the wood.

The King, he gave a banquet to all the flowers (save one),
With hungry eyes he watched them, a-seeking one alone.
The rose was there in satin,
The lilly in green hood,
But Bluebell, wild bluebell, only dances in the wood.

The King, he frowned in anger, his hand upon his sword.
He sent his men to seize her, and bring her to their Lord.
With silken cords they bound her,
Before the King she stood,
Bluebell, wild Bluebell, who dances in the wood.

The King, he rose to greet her, the maid he'd sworn to wed.
The King, he took his golden crown and set it on her head.
And then he paled and shivered,
The Courtiers gazed in fear,
At Bluebell, grey Bluebell, so pale and ghostly there.

'O King, your crown is heavy, 'twould bow my head with care.
Your palace walls would shut me in, who lives as free as air.
The wind, he is my lover,
the sun my lover too,
And Bluebell, wild Bluebell shall ne'er be Queen to you.'

The King, he mourned a twelvemonth, and none could ease his pain.
The King, he went a-walking a-down a lovers' lane.
He laid aside his golden crown,
into the woods went he,
Where Bluebell, wild Bluebell, dances ever wild and free.

Ballad of the Maytime. Agatha Christie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Ballad of the Maytime (A Christie)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:20 AM

What is the tune