Zoo let the day come on to spread His kindly light above my head, Wi' zights to zee, an' sounds to hear, That still do cheer my thoughtvul mind; Or let en goo, an' leäve behind An' hour to stroll along the gleädes, Where night do drown the beeches' sheädes, On grasses' bleädes, when birds be still.
Vor when the night do lull the sound O' cows a-bleärèn out in ground, The sh'ill-vaïc'd dog do stan' an' bark 'Ithin the dark, bezide the road; An' when noo cracklèn waggon's lwoad Is in the leäne, the wind do bring The merry peals that bells do ring O ding-dong-ding, when birds be still.
Zoo teäke, vor me, the town a-drown'd, 'Ithin a storm o' rumblèn sound, An' gi'e me vaïces that do speak So soft an' meek, to souls alwone; The brook a-gurglèn round a stwone, An' birds o' day a-zingèn clear, An' leaves, that I mid zit an' hear A-rustlèn near, when birds be still.
Oh! no, I quite injaÿ'd the ride Behind wold Dobbin's heavy heels, Wi' Jeäne a-prattlèn at my zide, Above our peäir o' spinnèn wheels, As grey-rin'd ashes' swaÿèn tops Did creak in moonlight in the copse, Above the quiv'rèn grass, a-beät By wind a-blowèn drough the geät.
If weary souls did want their sleep, They had a-zent vor sleep the night; Vor vo'k that had a call to keep Awake, lik' us, there still wer light. An' He that shut the sleepers' eyes, A-waïtèn vor the zun to rise, Ha' too much love to let em know The ling'rèn night did goo so slow.
But if my wife did catch a zight O' zome queer pollard, or a post, Poor soul! she took en in her fright To be a robber or a ghost. A two-stump'd withy, wi' a head, Mus' be a man wi' eärms a-spread; An' foam o' water, round a rock, Wer then a drownèn leädy's frock.
Zome staddle stwones to bear a mow, Wer dancèn veäries on the lag; An' then a snow-white sheeted cow Could only be, she thought, their flag, An owl a-vleèn drough the wood Wer men on watch vor little good; An' geätes a slam'd by wind, did goo, She thought, to let a robber drough.
But after all, she lik'd the zight O' cows asleep in glitt'rèn dew; An' brooks that gleam'd below the light, An' dim vield paths 'ithout a shoe. An' gaïly talk'd bezide my ears, A-laughèn off her needless fears: Or had the childern uppermost In mind, instead o' thief or ghost.