A Memory Of June Poem by Claude McKay

A Memory Of June

Rating: 2.8


When June comes dancing o'er the death of May,
With scarlet roses tinting her green breast,
And mating thrushes ushering in her day,
And Earth on tiptoe for her golden guest,

I always see the evening when we met--
The first of June baptized in tender rain--
And walked home through the wide streets, gleaming wet,
Arms locked, our warm flesh pulsing with love's pain.

I always see the cheerful little room,
And in the corner, fresh and white, the bed,
Sweet scented with a delicate perfume,
Wherein for one night only we were wed;

Where in the starlit stillness we lay mute,
And heard the whispering showers all night long,
And your brown burning body was a lute
Whereon my passion played his fevered song.

When June comes dancing o'er the death of May,
With scarlet roses staining her fair feet,
My soul takes leave of me to sing all day
A love so fugitive and so complete.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sylva Portoian 04 November 2011

Now... we are at fall But your poem felt me To feel in June... Your rhymes are music Dancing over my chest... I can't leave your poems Although it's dark Your stanzas Left me forget the clock

20 4 Reply
John Tiong Chunghoo 12 May 2006

claude, love this. a lot of sensitivity and great images.

11 6 Reply
Linnea Blumen 27 April 2017

I love the feeling embedded in the poem.

7 3 Reply
Richard Lavelle 25 April 2017

ah, what memories of my younger days when i thought i was in love.richard lavelle

7 3 Reply

all I could read is jet fuel can't melt steel beams and 9/11 did bush

13 8 Reply
Chinedu Dike 19 April 2015

Very romantic piece of poetry well graced in metaphoric piece of lines with beautiful rhyme scheme. A lovely poem indeed. Thanks for sharing.

6 2 Reply
Michelle Reeve 15 July 2014

Beautiful poem, I am surprised it is not better known.

8 2 Reply
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Claude McKay

Claude McKay

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