Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Went Hwome

Upon the slope, the hedge did bound
The vield wi’ blossom-whited zide,
An’ charlock patches, yollow-dyed,
Did reach along the white-soil’d ground;
An’ vo’k, a-comèn up vrom meäd,
 Brought gil’cup meal upon the shoe;
Or went on where the road did leäd,
 Wi’ smeechy doust from heel to tooe.
As noon did smite, wi’ burnèn light,
The road so white, to Meldonley.

An’ I did tramp the zun-dried ground,
By hedge-climb’d hills, a-spread wi’ flow’rs,
An’ watershootèn dells, an’ tow’rs,
By elem-trees a-hemm’d all round,
To zee a vew wold friends, about
 Wold Meldon, where I still ha’ zome,
That bid me speed as I come out,
 An’ now ha’ bid me welcome hwome,
As I did goo, while skies wer blue,
Vrom view to view, to Meldonley.

An’ there wer timber’d knaps, that show’d
Cool sheädes, vor rest, on grassy ground,
An’ thatch-brow’d windows, flower-bound,
Where I could wish wer my abode.
I pass’d the maïd avore the spring,
 An’ shepherd by the thornèn tree;
An’ heard the merry dréver zing,
 But met noo kith or kin to me,
Till I come down, vrom Meldon’s crown
To rufs o’ brown, at Meldonley.

1. Third Collection. Comen Hwome
2. Third Collection. Tweil
3. Second Collection. The Slantèn light o’ Fall
4. Second Collection. Light or Sheäde
5. Second Collection. Slow to come, quick agone

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