Second Collection. A Wife a-praïs’d
’Twer Maÿ, but ev’ry leaf wer dry All day below a sheenèn sky; The zun did glow wi’ yollow gleäre, An’ cowslips blow wi’ yollow gleäre, Wi’ grægles’ bells a-droopèn low, An’ bremble boughs a-stoopèn low; While culvers in the trees did coo Above the vallèn dew. An’ there, wi’ heäir o’ glossy black, Bezide your neck an’ down your back, You rambled gaÿ a-bloomèn feäir; By boughs o’ maÿ a-bloomèn feäir; An’ while the birds did twitter nigh, An’ water weäves did glitter nigh, You gather’d cowslips in the lew, Below the vallèn dew. An’ now, while you’ve a-been my bride As years o’ flow’rs ha’ bloom’d an’ died, Your smilèn feäce ha’ been my jaÿ; Your soul o’ greäce ha’ been my jaÿ; An’ wi’ my evenèn rest a-come, An’ zunsheen to the west a-come, I’m glad to teäke my road to you Vrom vields o’ vallèn dew. An’ when the raïn do wet the maÿ, A-bloomèn where we woonce did straÿ, An’ win’ do blow along so vast, An’ streams do flow along so vast; Ageän the storms so rough abroad, An’ angry tongues so gruff abroad, The love that I do meet vrom you Is lik’ the vallèn dew. An’ you be sprack’s a bee on wing, In search ov honey in the Spring: The dawn-red sky do meet ye up; The birds vu’st cry do meet ye up; An’ wi’ your feäce a-smilèn on, An’ busy hands a-tweilèn on, You’ll vind zome useful work to do Until the vallèn dew.
William Barnes’s other poems:
