Poem by William Barnes

Second Collection. The May-tree

I’ve a-come by the Maÿ-tree all times o’ the year,
    When leaves wer a-springèn,
    When vrost wer a-stingèn,
When cool-winded mornèn did show the hills clear,
When night wer bedimmèn the vields vur an’ near.

When, in zummer, his head wer as white as a sheet,
    Wi’ white buds a-zwellèn,
    An’ blossom, sweet-smellèn,
While leaves wi’ green leaves on his bough-zides did meet,
A-sheädèn the deäisies down under our veet.

When the zun, in the Fall, wer a-wanderèn wan,
    An’ haws on his head
    Did sprinkle en red,
Or bright drops o’ rain wer a-hung loosely on,
To the tips o’ the sprigs when the scud wer a-gone.

An’ when, in the winter, the zun did goo low,
    An’ keen win’ did huffle,
    But never could ruffle
The hard vrozen feäce o’ the water below,
His limbs wer a-fringed wi’ the vrost or the snow.

1. Second Collection. Fatherhood
2. Second Collection. Our Be’thplace
3. Third Collection. Slidèn
4. Third Collection. The Better vor zeèn o’ you
5. Third Collection. Early Plaÿmeäte

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