William Barnes

Second Collection. Slow to come, quick agone

Ah! there’s a house that I do know
Besouth o’ yonder trees,
Where northern winds can hardly blow
But in a softest breeze.
An’ there woonce sounded zongs an’ teäles
Vrom vaïce o’ maïd or youth,
An’ sweeter than the nightèngeäle’s
Above the copses lewth.

How swiftly there did run the brooks,
How swift war winds in flight,
How swiftly to their roost the rooks
Did vlee o’er head at night.
Though slow did seem to us the peäce
O’ comèn days a-head,
That now do seem as in a reäce
Wi’ aïr-birds to ha’ vled.