Poem by William Barnes

Second Collection. False Friends-like

When I wer still a bwoy, an’ mother’s pride,
A bigger bwoy spoke up to me so kind-like,
“If you do like, I’ll treat ye wi’ a ride
In theäse wheel-barrow here.” Zoo I wer blind-like
To what he had a-workèn in his mind-like,
An’ mounted vor a passenger inside;
An’ comèn to a puddle, perty wide,
He tipp’d me in, a-grinnèn back behind-like.
Zoo when a man do come to me so thick-like,
An’ sheäke my hand, where woonce he pass’d me by,
An’ tell me he would do me this or that,
I can’t help thinkèn o’ the big bwoy’s trick-like.
An’ then, vor all I can but wag my hat
An’ thank en, I do veel a little shy.

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

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