Classic Poem

JOHN AN' HIS FRIEND

JOHN

The zunsped hours, wi' wheelen sheädes,
Ha' long a-warm'd the lewth o' gleädes,
Till zummer now do weäne,
Though sheädes do whiver down below
The boughs, that elem trees do drow,
Athirt the dowsty leäne;

FRIEND

an' docks
Wi' ruddy stems do now rise tall
Bezide the cow-vorseäken stall,
All free vrom hoofy hocks.

JOHN

Upon the zwath wi' even zide,
The flowers have a-vell an' died,
An' wither'd ruslen dry;
An' in between the weäles' grey backs,
The wheels have now a-cut their tracks
Wi' lwoads a-builded high,

FRIEND

an' bound,
An' ev'ry rick wi' peäked crown
Is now a-turn'd to yollow brown,
A-zunburnt two-thirds round.

JOHN

An' clouds do ride at upper height
Above ripe barley, yollow white,
By leäne an' grassy drong,
An' vields o' wheat, a-turnen red,
Do slowly reel wi' giddy head,
In wind a-streamen strong,

FRIEND

by copse
An' leäze, wi' cows a-lyen down
Among the bennets, ruddy brown,
An' thissles' purple tops.

JOHN

Come while the sheep, a-shorn, do run
Clean white, below the yollow zun,
In deäisy beds; avore
The swingen hook do come to shear
The yollow wheat wi' nodden ear,
Come, welcome to my door.

FRIEND

I'll rest
Bezide the clover-whiten'd knap,
A-casten weary on my lap
My hand, your happy guest.