Poem by William Barnes

Second Collection. Leeburn Mill

Ov all the meäds wi’ shoals an’ pools,
Where streams did sheäke the limber zedge,
An’ milkèn vo’k did teäke their stools,
In evenèn zun-light under hedge:
Ov all the wears the brook did vill,
Or all the hatches where a sheet
O’ foam did leäp below woone’s veet,
The pleäce vor me wer Leeburn Mill.

An’ while below the mossy wheel
All day the foamèn stream did roar,
An’ up in mill the floatèn meal
Did pitch upon the sheäkèn vloor.
We then could vind but vew han’s still,
Or veet a-restèn off the ground,
An’ seldom hear the merry sound
O’ geämes a-plaÿ’d at Leeburn Mill.

But when they let the stream goo free,
Bezide the drippèn wheel at rest,
An’ leaves upon the poplar-tree
Wer dark avore the glowèn west;
An’ when the clock, a-ringèn sh’ill,
Did slowly beät zome evenèn hour,
Oh! then ’ithin the leafy bow’r
Our tongues did run at Leeburn Mill.

An’ when November’s win’ did blow,
Wi’ hufflèn storms along the plaïn,
An’ blacken’d leaves did lie below
The neäked tree, a-zoak’d wi’ raïn,
I werden at a loss to vill
The darkest hour o’ raïny skies,
If I did vind avore my eyes
The feäces down at Leeburn Mill.

1. Second Collection. The Linden on the Lawn
2. Second Collection. When Birds be Still
3. First Collection. Summer. Week’s End in Zummer, in the Wold Vo’k’s Time
4. Second Collection. The Lydlinch Bells
5. Third Collection. The Wheel Routs

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