Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Barnes. 18011886659. The Wife a-lost
SINCE I noo mwore do zee your feäce, | |
Up steärs or down below, | |
I’ll zit me in the lwonesome pleäce, | |
Where flat-bough’d beech do grow; | |
Below the beeches’ bough, my love, | 5 |
Where you did never come, | |
An’ I don’t look to meet ye now, | |
As I do look at hwome. | |
Since you noo mwore be at my zide, | |
In walks in zummer het, | 10 |
I’ll goo alwone where mist do ride, | |
Droo trees a-drippèn wet; | |
Below the raïn-wet bough, my love, | |
Where you did never come, | |
An’ I don’t grieve to miss ye now, | 15 |
As I do grieve at hwome. | |
Since now bezide my dinner-bwoard | |
Your vaïce do never sound, | |
I’ll eat the bit I can avword | |
A-vield upon the ground; | 20 |
Below the darksome bough, my love, | |
Where you did never dine, | |
An’ I don’t grieve to miss ye now, | |
As I at hwome do pine. | |
Since I do miss your vaïce an’ feäce | 25 |
In prayer at eventide, | |
I’ll pray wi’ woone sad vaïce vor greäce | |
To goo where you do bide; | |
Above the tree an’ bough, my love, | |
Where you be gone avore, | 30 |
An’ be a-waïtèn vor me now, | |
To come vor evermwore. |