Classic Poem

In fall tide, I overheard
Vrom maid to maid a warning word,
As they in merry mood did pass
By hedge in meäd on shiny grass,
Avore the bough's long hid high head
Had any withered leaves to shed,
As one did heästen on to teäke
Ripe blackberries upon a breäke:
" Don't goo too nimble by the brimble,
Vor else his hooks mid tear
Your skirt or skin so feäir."
Aye drough life, maids, aye heed your way,
Or you mid have pain a-seeken jaÿè.

In fall tide, I overheard
Vrom maid to maid a warning word,
As they in merry mood did push
Their way drough copse vrom bush to bush;
An' one meäde on to light a-shed
Upon a hazzles high head,
To pull down
His cluster'd nuts, vull brown:
" I warn you o' the thorn,
That wi' his stiff spears mid tear
Your frock or skin so feäir."
Aye drough life, maids, aye heed your way,
Or you mid have pain a-seeken jaÿè.

In fall tide, I overheard
Vrom maid to maid a warning word,
As they bezide the Stour's bed,
Below a withy's leänen head,
Where bulrush stems did stand
In grey-clubb'd wands along the land,
An' air in rustlen zedge did keep
Alive, while Stour did seem to sleep;
An' one with forked rod in hand
Did try to bring to land
A water lily, white o'er white,
That seem'd a jewel in her zight,
Above the mocken stream, the while
It show'd her feäce's smile:
" Don't goo too near the brim,
On rotten sod, or crumblen clod,
Or else the flow'r mid zwim
An' you mid zink!"
Aye drough life, maids, aye heed your way,
Or you mid have pain a-seeken jaÿè.