Poem by William Barnes

Third Collection. Two an’ Two

The zun, O Jessie, while his feäce do rise
 In vi’ry skies, a-sheddèn out his light
On yollow corn a-weävèn down below
 His yollow glow, is gaÿ avore the zight.
  By two an’ two,
  How goodly things do goo,
 A-matchèn woone another to fulvill
 The goodness ov their Meäkfèr’s will.

How bright the spreadèn water in the lew
 Do catch the blue, a-sheenèn vrom the sky;
How true the grass do teäke the dewy bead
 That it do need, while dousty roads be dry.
  By peäir an’ peäir
  Each thing’s a-meäde to sheäre
 The good another can bestow,
 In wisdom’s work down here below.

The lowest lim’s o’ trees do seldom grow
 A-spread too low to gi’e the cows a sheäde;
The aïr’s to bear the bird, the bird’s to rise;
 Vor light the eyes, vor eyes the light’s a-meäde.
  ’Tis gi’e an’ teäke,
  An’ woone vor others’ seäke;
 In peäirs a-workèn out their ends,
 Though men be foes that should be friends.

1. Second Collection. Light or Sheäde
2. Third Collection. Shaftesbury Feäir
3. Second Collection. The Waggon a-stooded
4. Third Collection. Comen Hwome
5. Third Collection. The Neäme Letters

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