Woak Hill
Woak Hill
Original Text
William Barnes, Poems of rural life in the Dorset dialect, Second collection, 2nd edn. (London: J. R. Smith, 1863). PR 4064 P5 1863 Robarts Library
1 When sycamore leaves wer a-spreadèn
2 Green-ruddy in hedges,
3Bezide the red doust o' the ridges,
4 A-dried at Woak Hill;
5 I packed up my goods all a sheenèn
6 Wi' long years o' handlèn,
7On dousty red wheel ov a waggon,
8 To ride at Woak Hill.
9 The brown thatchen ruf o' the dwellèn,
10 I then wer a-leävèn,
11Had shelter'd the sleek head o' Meäry,
12 My bride at Woak Hill.
13 But now vor zome years, her light voot-vall
14 'S a-lost vrom the vloorèn.
16 She died at Woak Hill.
17 But still I do think that, in soul,
18 She do hover about us;
20 Her pride at Woak Hill.
21 Zoo--lest she should tell me hereafter
22 I stole off 'ithout her,
24 To bide at Woak Hill--
25 I call'd her so fondly, wi' lippèns
26 All soundless to others,
27An' took her wi' aïr-reachèn hand,
28 To my zide at Woak Hill.
29 On the road I did look round, a-talkèn
30 To light at my shoulder,
31An' then led her in at the doorway,
32 Miles wide vrom Woak Hill.
33 An' that's why vo'k thought, vor a season,
34 My mind wer a-wandrèn
35Wi' sorrow, when I wer so sorely
36 A-tried at Woak Hill.
37 But no; that my Meäry mid never
38 Behold herzelf slighted,
39I wanted to think that I guided
40 My guide vrom Woak Hill.
Notes
15] jay: joy. Back to Line
19] ho: to feel misgiving care. Back to Line
23] house-ridden: house changing, moving. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1863
RPO poem Editors
J. D. Robins
RPO Edition
2RP.2.334; RPO 1996-2000.
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