Louis Untermeyer, ed. (1885–1977). Modern British Poetry. 1920.
Anthony C. Deane18701946A Rustic Song
O
O’ rustic volk, I be;
And writin’ gennelmen dü descroibe
The doin’s o’ such as we;
I don’t knaw mooch o’ corliflower plants,
I can’t tell ’oes from trowels,
But ’ear me mix ma consonants,
An’ moodle oop all ma vowels!
That vew can hunderstand,
’Tis Yorkshire-Zummerzet, I expect,
With a dash o’ the Oirish brand;
Sometimes a bloomin’ flower of speech
I picks from Cockney spots,
And when releegious truths I teach,
Obsairve ma richt gude Scots!
I ’adn’t got much to do,
I blessed the ’eroine’s purty face,
An’ I seëd the ’ero through;
But now, I’m juist a pairsonage!
A power o’ bukes there be
Which from the start to the very last page
Entoirely deal with me!
Ye’ve got to find if ye can;
A wunnerful difference spellin’ makes
In the ’ands of a competent man!
I mayn’t knaw mooch o’ corliflower plants,
I mayn’t knaw ’oes from trowels,
But I does ma wark, if ma consonants
Be properly mixed with ma vowels!