gather: St. Mark's field blessing

so all the chorus sang / Of heav'nly birds, as to the stars they nimbly sprang

As long before St. Mark’s Day as the frogs are heard croaking

gather: Annunciation waffle bar

St. Gabriel to Mary flies / this is the end of snow & ice

gather: Lent

the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, / and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains

The Snowdrop, in purest white array, / First rears her head on Candlemas Day