Page:Barnes (1879) Poems of rural life in the Dorset dialect (combined).djvu/129

Rh The wold vo’k now do meet abrode, An’ tell o’ winter’s they’ve a-know’d; When snow wer long above the groun’, Or floods broke all the bridges down, Or wind unheal’d a half the town,— &emsp;The teäles o’ wold times long a-gone, &emsp;But ever dear to think upon, &emsp;&emsp;The zunsheen o’ their winter.

Vor now to them noo brook can run, Noo hill can feäce the winter zun, Noo leaves can vall, noo flow’rs can feäde, Noo snow can hide the grasses bleäde, Noo vrost can whiten in the sheäde, &emsp;Noo day can come, but what do bring &emsp;To mind ageän their early spring, &emsp;&emsp;That’s now a-turn’d to winter.

leäte o’ nights, above the green By thik wold house, the moon do sheen, A leädy there, a-hangèn low Her head, ’s a-walkèn to an’ fro In robes so white’s the driven snow, &emsp;Wi’ woone eärm down, while woone do rest &emsp;All lily-white athirt the breast &emsp;&emsp;O’ thik poor weepèn leädy.

The whirlèn wind an’ whis’lèn squall Do sheäke the ivy by the wall, An’ meäke the plyèn tree-tops rock, But never ruffle her white frock; An’ slammèn door an’ rattlèn lock, &emsp;That in thik empty house do sound, &emsp;Do never seem to meäke look round &emsp;&emsp;Thik ever downcast leädy.