Poem by William Barnes

Second Collection. John Bleäke at Hwome

JOHN BLEÄKE AT HWOME AT NIGHT

No: where the woak do overspread,
The grass begloom’d below his head,
An’ water, under bowèn zedge,
A-springèn vrom the river’s edge,
Do ripple, as the win’ do blow,
An’ sparkle, as the sky do glow;
An’ grey-leav’d withy-boughs do cool,
Wi’ darksome sheädes, the clear-feäced pool,
My chimny smoke, ’ithin the lew
O’ trees is there arisèn blue;
Avore the night do dim our zight,
Or candle-light, a-sheenèn bright,
Do sparkle drough the window.

When crumpled leaves o’ Fall do bound
Avore the wind, along the ground,
An’ wither’d bennet-stems do stand
A-quiv’rèn on the chilly land;
The while the zun, wi’ zettèn rim,
Do leave the workman’s pathway dim;
An’ sweet-breath’d childern’s hangèn heads
Be laid wi’ kisses, on their beds;
Then I do seek my woodland nest,
An’ zit bezide my vier at rest,
While night’s a-spread, where day’s a-vled,
An’ lights do shed their beams o’ red,
A-sparklèn drough the window.

If winter’s whistlèn winds do vreeze
The snow a-gather’d on the trees,
An’ sheädes o’ poplar stems do vall
In moonlight up athirt the wall;
An’ icicles do hang below
The oves, a-glitt’rèn in a row,
An’ risèn stars do slowly ride
Above the ruf’s upslantèn zide;
Then I do lay my weary head
Asleep upon my peaceful bed,
When middle-night ha’ quench’d the light
Ov embers bright, an’ candles white
A-beamèn drough the window.

1. Second Collection. Light or Sheäde
2. Second Collection. The May-tree
3. Third Collection. Shaftesbury Feäir
4. First Collection. Sundry Pieces. Aunt’s Tantrums
5. Third Collection. Comen Hwome

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