William Barnes

First Collection. Sundry Pieces. Jeäne

We now mid hope vor better cheer,
My smilèn wife o’ twice vive year.
Let others frown, if thou bist near
 Wi’ hope upon thy brow, Jeäne;
Vor I vu’st lov’d thee when thy light
Young sheäpe vu’st grew to woman’s height;
I loved thee near, an’ out o’ zight,
 An’ I do love thee now, Jeäne.

An’ we’ve a-trod the sheenèn bleäde
Ov eegrass in the zummer sheäde,
An’ when the leäves begun to feäde
 Wi’ zummer in the weäne, Jeäne;
An’ we’ve a-wander’d drough the groun’
O’ swaÿèn wheat a-turnèn brown,
An’ we’ve a-stroll’d together roun’
 The brook an’ drough the leäne, Jeäne.

An’ nwone but I can ever tell
Ov all thy tears that have a-vell
When trials meäde thy bosom zwell,
 An’ nwone but thou o’ mine, Jeäne;
An’ now my heart, that heav’d wi’ pride
Back then to have thee at my zide,
Do love thee mwore as years do slide,
 An’ leäve them times behine, Jeäne.