Third Collection. Vields by Watervalls
When our downcast looks be smileless, Under others’ wrongs an’ slightèns, When our daily deeds be guileless, An’ do meet unkind requitèns, You can meäke us zome amends Vor wrongs o’ foes, an’ slights o’ friends;— O flow’ry-gleäded, timber-sheäded Vields by flowèn watervalls! Here be softest aïrs a-blowèn Drough the boughs, wi’ zingèn drushes, Up above the streams, a-flowèn Under willows, on by rushes. Here below the bright-zunn’d sky The dew-bespangled flow’rs do dry, In woody-zided, stream-divided Vields by flowèn watervalls. Waters, wi’ their giddy rollèns; Breezes wi’ their plaÿsome wooèns; Here do heal, in soft consolèns, Hearts a-wrung wi’ man’s wrong doèns. Day do come to us as gaÿ As to a king ov widest swaÿ, In deäisy-whitèn’d, gil’cup-brightèn’d Vields by flowèn watervalls. Zome feäir buds mid outlive blightèns, Zome sweet hopes mid outlive sorrow, After days of wrongs an’ slightèns There mid break a happy morrow. We mid have noo e’thly love; But God’s love-tokens vrom above Here mid meet us, here mid greet us, In the vields by watervalls.
William Barnes’s other poems:
