Poem by the Danish writer Jeppe Aakjær

Now the day is full of song

Now the day is full of song

and now the curlew’s calling,

hear the snipe that all night long

its love-drum beats till morning.

Gather, gather grass with dew,

gather, gather reeds anew,

gather, gather flowers.

Marigolds with heavy stance

have formed a golden meadow,

when the south wind calls a dance

the willow herb will follow.

Gather, gather grass with dew,

gather, gather reeds anew,

gather, gather flowers.

And the pond, till day is late,

has flowering rush to light it,

holds up high each stem so straight

to let the sun ignite it.

Gather, gather grass with dew,

gather, gather reeds anew,

gather, gather flowers.

Now young maids with stitches fine

their wedding gowns are seaming.

She who for a groom must pine

will find hers when she’s dreaming.

Gather, gather grass with dew,

gather, gather reeds anew,

gather, gather flowers.

Hand me a forgetmenot

and mint ere our game’s over,

then we will, as like as not,

end up as if in clover.

Gather, gather grass with dew,

gather, gather reeds anew,

gather, gather flowers.

Well-known Danish song, with music by Carl Nielsen