Third Collection. Early Plaÿmeäte
After many long years had a-run, The while I wer a-gone vrom the pleäce, I come back to the vields, where the zun Ov her childhood did show me her feäce. There her father, years wolder, did stoop. An’ her brother, wer now a-grow’d staïd, An’ the apple tree lower did droop. Out in the orcha’d where we had a-plaÿ’d, There wer zome things a-seemèn the seäme, But Meäry’s a-married awaÿ. There wer two little childern a-zent, Wi’ a message to me, oh! so feaïr As the mother that they did zoo ment, When in childhood she plaÿ’d wi’ me there. Zoo they twold me that if I would come Down to Coomb, I should zee a wold friend, Vor a plaÿmeäte o’ mine wer at hwome, An’ would stay till another week’s end. At the dear pworchfed door, could I dare To zee Meäry a-married awaÿ! On the flower-not, now all a-trod Stwony hard, the green grass wer a-spread, An’ the long-slighted woodbine did nod Vrom the wall, wi’ a loose-hangèn head. An’ the martin’s clay nest wer a-hung Up below the brown oves, in the dry, An’ the rooks had a-rock’d broods o’ young On the elems below the Maÿ sky; But the bud on the bed, coulden bide, Wi’ young Meäry a-married awaÿ.
William Barnes’s other poems:
