Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Zummer An' Winter

When I led by zummer streams
 The pride o’ Lea, as naïghbours thought her,
While the zun, wi’ evenèn beams,
 Did cast our sheädes athirt the water;
    Winds a-blowèn,
    Streams a-flowèn,
    Skies a-glowèn,
Tokens ov my jaÿ zoo fleetèn,
Heighten’d it, that happy meetèn.

Then, when maïd an’ man took pleäces,
 Gaÿ in winter’s Chris’mas dances,
Showèn in their merry feäces
 Kindly smiles an’ glisnèn glances;
    Stars a-winkèn,
    Day a-shrinkèn,
    Sheädes a-zinkèn,
Brought anew the happy meetèn,
That did meäke the night too fleetèn.

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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