Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Early Plaÿmeäte

After many long years had a-run,
 The while I wer a-gone vrom the pleäce,
I come back to the vields, where the zun
 Ov her childhood did show me her feäce.
There her father, years wolder, did stoop.
 An’ her brother, wer now a-grow’d staïd,
An’ the apple tree lower did droop.
 Out in the orcha’d where we had a-plaÿ’d,
There wer zome things a-seemèn the seäme,
 But Meäry’s a-married awaÿ.

There wer two little childern a-zent,
 Wi’ a message to me, oh! so feaïr
As the mother that they did zoo ment,
 When in childhood she plaÿ’d wi’ me there.
Zoo they twold me that if I would come
 Down to Coomb, I should zee a wold friend,
Vor a plaÿmeäte o’ mine wer at hwome,
 An’ would stay till another week’s end.
At the dear pworchfed door, could I dare
 To zee Meäry a-married awaÿ!

On the flower-not, now all a-trod
 Stwony hard, the green grass wer a-spread,
An’ the long-slighted woodbine did nod
 Vrom the wall, wi’ a loose-hangèn head.
An’ the martin’s clay nest wer a-hung
 Up below the brown oves, in the dry,
An’ the rooks had a-rock’d broods o’ young
 On the elems below the Maÿ sky;
But the bud on the bed, coulden bide,
 Wi’ young Meäry a-married awaÿ. 

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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