Puzzle Poem number 4 + Solution

[Ann]

This one was first published in May 1898. I wonder if the compilers ever thought there'd be people still intrigued by them over 100 years later!

Don't forget the title by the way.



My Garden in May

I've been waiting for May all the winter through
And the winter is in the North country
The bulbs have sprung forth and I daily view
In the sunshine . . .distance the deep blue
O crown imperial, o tulip proud
My loving heart just laughs aloud
It is
We must hastily take drear old winter's debts
But the summer is down in the north country
And ? to ? our hearts and memory
The irises?
For . . . days have footstep . . .

And here's the solution.

I've been waiting for May all the winter through;
(And the winter is long in the North Countrie)
But the bulbs have sprung forth; and I daily view,
In the sun-lighted distance, the deep blue sea.
Oh Crown Imperial, O tulip proud,
My loving heart just laughs out loud!

It is blithe when it all-that-it-longed-for gets;
(But the summer is short in the North Countrie)
We must hastily take drear old Winters's debts,
And hug to our heart and memory,
The Iris, snowflake, and wall-flower sweet;
For spring-time days have footsteps fleet.

Believe it or not, a Mabel Barnicott managed to get the solution correct "in every respect"!

For those who are curious, the 2 pigs heads which stumped all of us are actually hogsheads. Apparently 2 hogsheads make one butt.

[PAWS]

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

Is the title My Garden or My Grandma?

I've been waiting . . all the winter through
And ? the winter ? in the North country
. . . have sprung forth and I daily view
In the sunshine . . . the deep blue
O crown imperial, o tulip proud
My . . . heart just laughs aloud

And ? to ? our hearts and memory

For . . . days have footstep . . .

Oh enough, too tired, try again tomorrow, nighty night.

[Ann]

I think the title is "My Garden in May".

I'm finding this one the hardest so far.

[PAWS]

PAWS said:

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

Is the title My Garden or My Grandma?

I've been waiting . . all the winter through
And ? the winter is in the North country
. . bulbs have sprung forth and I daily view
In the sunshine . . . the deep blue
O crown imperial, o tulip proud
My loving heart just laughs aloud

And ? to ? our hearts and memory

For . . . days have footstep . . .

[Ann]

I've added a few little bits, but I'm finding this one a toughy. I'm still trying to work out where the pigs come in, in line 3.

Line 1 seems to have 11 syllables, but I think there should only be 10?

[Daisy]

Could the last line be something like

For summer time days have footsteps short (?)

The penultimate line could the Irises now frill (?)

Marion
aka Confused of Basingstoke

[PAWS]

I thought snowflake for the penult line, but it seems ouit of place.

[Ann]

I've just had half an hour sitting outside looking at this. Can anyone make anything sensible out of,

Line 7
It is.....honey when it all that it.......forgets

Line 10
And torn at .... our heart and memory

Line 11
The irises, snowflake and flowers? are small?

[Cathrin]

Could the pigs be Hogs or Hogshead (kind of beer barrel)
If females they would be Sows

[boheme]

Sheesh! I go out of town for a few days to celebrate my son's graduation, and not only do you post a new puzzle, but you pretty much SOLVE it before I even get a chance to tackle it!!!

[Ann]

Kaye,

I think we're all well and truly stuck now though. Jen was over yesterday evening and I was hoping she might come up with some new ideas, but we had no luck.

(I hear you were away attending your son's graduation. Congratulations to him!)

[Ann]

Bumping this back up, so those who are interested can see the solution.