Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Went Hwome

Upon the slope, the hedge did bound
The vield wi’ blossom-whited zide,
An’ charlock patches, yollow-dyed,
Did reach along the white-soil’d ground;
An’ vo’k, a-comèn up vrom meäd,
 Brought gil’cup meal upon the shoe;
Or went on where the road did leäd,
 Wi’ smeechy doust from heel to tooe.
As noon did smite, wi’ burnèn light,
The road so white, to Meldonley.

An’ I did tramp the zun-dried ground,
By hedge-climb’d hills, a-spread wi’ flow’rs,
An’ watershootèn dells, an’ tow’rs,
By elem-trees a-hemm’d all round,
To zee a vew wold friends, about
 Wold Meldon, where I still ha’ zome,
That bid me speed as I come out,
 An’ now ha’ bid me welcome hwome,
As I did goo, while skies wer blue,
Vrom view to view, to Meldonley.

An’ there wer timber’d knaps, that show’d
Cool sheädes, vor rest, on grassy ground,
An’ thatch-brow’d windows, flower-bound,
Where I could wish wer my abode.
I pass’d the maïd avore the spring,
 An’ shepherd by the thornèn tree;
An’ heard the merry dréver zing,
 But met noo kith or kin to me,
Till I come down, vrom Meldon’s crown
To rufs o’ brown, at Meldonley.

1. First Collection. Sundry Pieces. The Common a-took in
2. Second Collection. The Wold vo’k Dead
3. Third Collection. The New House a-gettèn Wold
4. First Collection. Summer. Bees a-Zwarmèn
5. Second Collection. Our Be’thplace

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