Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Sheädes

Come here an’ zit a while below
 Theäse tower, grey and ivy-bound,
In sheäde, the while the zun do glow
 So hot upon the flow’ry ground;
   An’ winds in flight,
   Do briskly smite
The blossoms bright, upon the gleäde,
But never stir the sleepèn sheäde.

As when you stood upon the brink
 O’ yonder brook, wi’ back-zunn’d head,
Your zunny-grounded sheäde did zink
 Upon the water’s grav’lly bed,
   Where weäves could zweep
   Away, or keep,
The gravel heap that they’d a-meäde,
But never wash awaÿ the sheäde.

An’ zoo, when you can woonce vulvil
 What’s feäir, a-tried by heaven’s light,
Why never fear that evil will
 Can meäke a wrong o’ your good right.
   The right wull stand,
   Vor all man’s hand,
Till streams on zand, an’ wind in gleädes,
Can zweep awaÿ the zuncast sheädes.

1. Second Collection. When Birds be Still
2. First Collection. Summer. Week’s End in Zummer, in the Wold Vo’k’s Time
3. Second Collection. The Linden on the Lawn
4. Second Collection. I know Who
5. Third Collection. Went vrom Hwome

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