Classic Poem

HUSBAND AND WIFE

HUSBAND

All's day along the elem drong,
A-trimmen boughs that kept me lew,
My hook did sheen a-cutten keen
In wood that little win' come drough.
Noo vaice did rise but sounds o' cows,
An' birds' thin cries, by neäked boughs,
Where leaves a-shed vrom beeches red
Did vall upon the grassy bank,
Or else lie down, a-wither'd brown,
By elems in a steätely rank.

WIFE

I'm sure you must be glad enough
To be in lewth, wi' wind so rough;
An' glad to leäve the chirpen birds
To hear a tongue a-talken words.

When you shall swaÿè a-mowen haÿè,
An' elem drongs be all a-dried,
An' Stour below do wander slow
A-sheenen bright at evenentide;
Or corn in lwoad, on red wheel rims,
Shall grind the road, an' brush tree-limbs;
Then while the bell in tow'r do tell
'Tis time to shut your day's work out,
An' you do flag, an' hardly drag
Your leäbor-weäri'd limbs about;
Why then, avore the Fall's a-come,
Your little maid will hail you hwome.

HUSBAND

Aye, I shall leäve the sounds o' birds
To hear Poll's tongue a-talken words.