William Barnes

Third Collection. Come an’ zee us

            Eclogue.

  COME AND ZEE US IN THE ZUMMER.

John; William; William’s Bwoy; and William’s Maïd at Feäir.

JOHN.

Zoo here be your childern, a-sheärèn
Your feäir-day, an’ each wi’ a feäirèn.

WILLIAM.

Aye, well, there’s noo peace ’ithout comèn
To stannèn an’ show, in the zummer.

JOHN.

An’ how is your Jeäne? still as merry
As ever, wi’ cheaks lik’ a cherry?

WILLIAM.

Still merry, but beauty’s as feädesome
’S the rain’s glowèn bow in the zummer.

JOHN.

Well now, I do hope we shall vind ye
Come soon, wi’ your childern behind ye,
To Stowe, while o’ bwoth zides o’ hedges,
The zunsheen do glow in the zummer.

WILLIAM.

Well, aye, when the mowèn is over,
An’ ee-grass do whiten wi’ clover.
A man’s a-tired out, vor much walken,
The while he do mow in the zummer.

WILLIAM’S BWOY.

I’ll goo, an’ we’ll zet up a wicket,
An’ have a good innèns at cricket;
An’ teäke a good plounce in the water,
Where clote-leaves do grow in the zummer.

WILLIAM’S MAID.

I’ll goo, an’ we’ll plaÿ “Thread the needle”
Or “Huntèn the slipper,” or wheedle
Young Jemmy to fiddle, an’ reely
So brisk to an’ fro in the zummer.

JOHN.

An’ Jeäne. Mind you don’t come ’ithout her,
My wife is a-thinkèn about her;
At our house she’ll find she’s as welcome
’S the rwose that do blow in the zummer.