How gaily fair, and fairly gay
This child of May
To skip past cares and dance away
Her childhood in a day
And leave behind her fairy form
And form so fair
As though her bones
And not her soul
Could dance on air.

How quickly soon and soon and quick
Comes age and care and body thick!
When only eyes and spirits dance
And fairy form and form so fair
Are vanished with the flaxen hair.

Now dance, my child, with spirits free,
Before the careless days all flee,
And as I watch, my heart once more
Will lift with you and gaily soar.