Бенджамин Брирли (Benjamin Brierley)

Fotchin' th' Keaws up

                ONE summer e'enin
                When the screenin
Cleauds drew o'er the settin sun.
                Madge went trippin
                Eaut o'th' shipp'n,—
Fotchin th' keaws, as oft hoo'd done.
                In th' owd lane
                Hoo met a swain
Pluckin blossoms from the spray.
                "Madge," said he,—
                "It's strange to see
Thee fotchin th' keaws so late i'th' day."

                Madge said nowt,
                Yet truly thowt
Ther summat wicked in his e'e:
                But when her waist
                He tightly pressed
Heaw could hoo longer silent be?
                Hoo said—"Jim Dawson,
                Eh, theau fause un,
What dos't think my mam'll say,
                If hoo sees thee
                Offer t' squeeze me—
Fotchin th' keaws up late i'th' day?

                "Let me goo, Jim;
                Neaw, then, do, Jim—
Aw've no time for stoppin here."
                But the youth,
                To tell the truth,
Wi' cobweb could ha' held her theere:
                Then the gate
                Was not too strait
For two to pass, an' goo ther way:
                But who could pass
                A bonny lass,
When fotchin th' keaws up late i'th' day?

                "Madge," said Jim—
                Whilst hoo to him
As closely clung as he to her—
                "It's strange if time
                I' th' summer's prime
An heaur to lovers conno spare.
                If th' owd sun's gone,
                Ther's th' young moon yon,
Stringin' silver beads on th' hay;
                An' thoos bits o'
                Leet that flit so,
Are keaws hoo's fotchin' late i'th' day.

                "Two cleauds meetin',
                Neaw are greetin';
See 'em kissin' as they pass?"
                Madge, not thinkin'
                Ill, said, shrinkin',
"Which is th' lad, an' which is th' lass?"
                "That," said Jim,
                "Ut's breet an' slim,
Must be the lass, neaw on her way
                Spreadin' charms
                O'er heaven's farms,
Whilst fotchin th' keaws up late i'th' day."

                ' T' had been a wonder
                An' a blunder,
Had the skies their lessons lost;
                If two cleauds, meetin',
                Did o'th' greetin',
Why did Jim the maid accost?
                But oh! the kisses,
                And the blisses,
That took Madge's heart away!
                Neaw hoo's fain
                Hoo met a swain
When fotchin th' keaws up late i'th' day.