William Barnes

Second Collection. Jessie Lee

Above the timber’s bendèn sh’ouds,
 The western wind did softly blow;
An’ up avore the knap, the clouds
 Did ride as white as driven snow.
Vrom west to east the clouds did zwim
Wi’ wind that plied the elem’s lim’;
Vrom west to east the stream did glide,
A-sheenèn wide, wi’ windèn brim.

How feäir, I thought, avore the sky
 The slowly-zwimmfen clouds do look;
How soft the win’s a-streamèn by;
 How bright do roll the weävy brook:
When there, a-passèn on my right,
A-walkèn slow, an’ treadèn light,
Young Jessie Lee come by, an’ there
Took all my ceäre, an’ all my zight.

Vor lovely wer the looks her feäce
 Held up avore the western sky:
An’ comely wer the steps her peäce
 Did meäke a-walkèn slowly by:
But I went east, wi’ beätèn breast,
Wi’ wind, an’ cloud, an’ brook, vor rest,
Wi’ rest a-lost, vor Jessie gone
So lovely on, toward the west.

Blow on, O winds, athirt the hill;
 Zwim on, O clouds; O waters vall,
Down mæshy rocks, vrom mill to mill;
 I now can overlook ye all.
But roll, O zun, an’ bring to me
My day, if such a day there be,
When zome dear path to my abode
Shall be the road o’ Jessie Lee.