Third Collection. Beauty Undecked
The grass mid sheen when wat’ry beäds O’ dew do glitter on the meäds, An’ thorns be bright when quiv’rèn studs O’ raïn do hang upon their buds— As jewels be a-meäde by art To zet the plaïnest vo’k off smart But sheäkèn ivy on its tree, An’ low-bough’d laurel at our knee, Be bright all day, without the gleäre, O’ drops that duller leäves mid weär— As Jeäne is feäir to look upon In plaïnest gear that she can don.
William Barnes’s other poems: