Darkness fades before a new moon, a crescent pale and still,
A gathering awaits dawn’s magic, figures silhouette the hill.
The lime leaf is entwined with the hawthorn’s pure, white lace,
Whilst flowers bloom within ivy crowns around each bonny face.
From garlands in the early mist, coloured ribbons fly,
As the top hat, garnished with feather and oak, on each head is held high.
Now, the sky it blushes crimson, so the dancers greet the sun,
Hand-in-hand with time once more, May’s morning has begun…
An extraordinary assembly fills the town of Hastings old,
A fusion of costumes, wonderful and bright, a vision to behold!
We join in celebration by the shores of a golden sea,
As from the cheers, at last, once more, the Jack-in-the-Green is free!
All is still, and a silence falls from the chanting of his name,
Then, the ladies dance, with charm and grace, around his fabulous frame,
And down come the petals thrown from each and every sleeve,
Towards the winding, narrow streets the procession now does weave.
Leaping and prancing, the mystical mass it moves with spectacular flare,
Frolicking and flaunting with hankies a-flying over antler, horn and hair.
The clacking of sticks and the chinking of bells, compete with the cry of the crowds,
Then, passes the wondrous parade of giants, with their heads up in the clouds.
The playful wind is warm and under a canopy of blue,
Good entertainment merges with the finest of nature’s brew,
Whilst the hobbyhorse he teases, as each painted face does glow,
Then, after the maypole ritual, up to the castle they must go.
At last, we wait with baited breath, for Jack to leave his stand,
The seasons have turned full circle as we watch the merry band.
Guarded closely he faces his fate, the minstrels tune the drum,
Round and round the leaf-men go, for the ‘One-in-the-Green’ his time has come!
With the traditional, token clashing of wood, the enchantment takes its hold
And we cast away the memories of a winter long and cold.
So sadly Jack, now, you must fall… and down he lies for all to see!
He’s slain now! Strip his coat and keep. The spirit of summer at last is free!
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