Page:Barnes (1879) Poems of rural life in the Dorset dialect (combined).djvu/310

294 Wi’ grægles’ bells a-droopèn low, An’ bremble boughs a-stoopèn low; While culvers in the trees did coo &emsp;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, &emsp;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 &emsp;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 &emsp;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;