Poem by William Barnes

Second Collection. A Pleäce in Zight

As I at work do look aroun’
Upon the groun’ I have in view,
To yonder hills that still do rise
Avore the skies, wi’ backs o’ blue;
’Ithin the ridges that do vall
An’ rise roun’ Blackmwore lik’ a wall,
’Tis yonder knap do teäke my zight
Vrom dawn till night, the mwost ov all.

An’ there, in Maÿ, ’ithin the lewth
O’ boughs in blooth, be sheädy walks,
An’ cowslips up in yollow beds
Do hang their heads on downy stalks;
An’ if the weather should be feäir
When I’ve a holiday to speäre,
I’ll teäke the chance o’ gettèn drough
An hour or two wi’ zome vo’k there.

An’ there I now can dimly zee
The elem-tree upon the mound,
An’ there meäke out the high-bough’d grove
An’ narrow drove by Redcliff ground;
An’ there by trees a-risèn tall,
The glowèn zunlight now do vall,
Wi’ shortest sheädes o’ middle day,
Upon the gray wold house’s wall.

An’ I can zee avore the sky
A-risèn high the churches speer,
Wi’ bells that I do goo to swing,
An’ like to ring, an’ like to hear;
An’ if I’ve luck upon my zide,
They bells shall sound bwoth loud an’ wide,
A peal above they slopes o’ gray,
Zome merry day wi’ Jeäne a bride.

1. Third Collection. Shaftesbury Feäir
2. Second Collection. Light or Sheäde
3. Third Collection. Comen Hwome
4. Second Collection. Childhood
5. Third Collection. Sheädes

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