William Barnes

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,
    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,
I’ll goo alwone where mist do ride,
    Droo trees a-drippen wet;
Below the raïn-wet bough, my love,
    Where you did never come,
An’ I don’t grieve to miss ye now,
    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;
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
    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,
An’ be a-waïten vor me now,
    To come vor evermwore.