Lucy Vickery

‘Merrie sing Rishi!’: variations on ‘Sumer is icumen in’

Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee in The Wicker Man [Studio Canal/Shutterstock]

In Competition No. 3154 you were invited to supply your own variations on the medieval round ‘Sumer is icumen in’.

This six-part polyphony — the jaunty accompaniment to the ritual sacrifice of Edward Woodwood’s Christian copper in the horrific climax of The Wicker Man — is also known as the Summer Canon and dates from about 1300. Some contend that it contains the oldest example in written English of the word ‘fart’ (‘Bucke uerteth’ can be rendered as ‘the billy goat is farting’) though the correct translation has been the subject of scholarly squabbles.

This was a tricky challenge and you might have looked for inspiration to Ezra Pound, who wrote a well-known parody of the poem entitled ‘Ancient Music’:

Winter is icummen in, Lhude sing Goddamm, Raineth drop and staineth slop. And how the wind doth ramm!

Those that made the cut, in a smallish, somewhat half-hearted but pleasingly varied entry, are printed below and earn £30 each. Commendations and commiserations go to unlucky losers Bill Greenwell, Katie Mallett, Chris O’Carroll, Michelle Werrett and Nick Syrett.

Sumer is icumen in Lhude wayle bu-hu — Futbal gonne, Wimble-donne Hwæt the helle to doe?   Sumer is a Cumynges sinne: Unlyke we, the reste, Norþward driveð, soon arrivð Eyen for to teste   Sumer is a non-evente This year, alle shotte – Crikket cutten, pubbes shutten, Falleth pounde, detts abounde;   At insystaunce, keepeð dystaunce — Sodde the lotte, so blodi hwæt? Cuc-cu, Cuc-cu — Yea, Thu — Cucc-Yu Mike Morrison

Sumer is i-cumen in, Lhude sing cuccu! Groweth croppe and bloweth toppe, For no man gathereth it oppe, And no man cometh therto do. Sing cuccu.   Boris bleateth after deales chepe. Meeting starteth, Brussels farteth, Boris seeketh markets newe. Trumpè tweeteth: screwè you! Boris flee-eth to Lorde Barnard’s Keepe. Not so murie nu!   Owle singeth tu-wit-tu-wu, Wel weepen we al, bu-hu! Hither come and say me trewe: Who is nu cuccu? Brian Murdoch

Sunac is icumen in Lhude sing Rishi! Dresseþ flash And bloweþ cash And shakeþ money tre Sing Rishi!   Leader of þa sumer six Locdoun haþ a key Boris sickens Cumings chiccens Merrie sing Rishi!   Rishi! Rishi! Wel singes ye Rishi! And set þam folces free   Sing Rishi ye! Sing Rishi! Sing Rishi! Sing Rishi ye! Nick MacKinnon

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