Children’s Children by William Barnes
Oh! if my ling’rèn life should run, Drough years a-reckoned ten by ten, Below the never-tirèn zun, Till beäbes ageän be wives an’ men; An’ stillest deafness should ha’ bound My ears, at last, vrom ev’ry sound; Though still my eyes in that sweet light, Should have the zight o’ sky an’ ground: Would then […]
Childhood by William Barnes
Aye, at that time our days wer but vew, An’ our lim’s wer but small, an’ a-growèn; An’ then the feäir worold wer new, An’ life wer all hopevul an’ gaÿ; An’ the times o’ the sproutèn o’ leaves, An’ the cheäk-burnèn seasons o’ mowèn, An’ bindèn o’ red-headed sheaves, Wer all welcome seasons o’ […]
Changes by William Barnes
By time’s a-brought the mornèn light, By time the light do weäne; By time’s a-brought the young man’s might, By time his might do weäne; The Winter snow do whitèn grass, The zummer flow’rs do brightèn grass, Vor zome things we do lose wi’ païn, We’ve mwore that mid be jaÿ to gaïn, An’ my […]
Brookwell by William Barnes
Well, I do zay ’tis wo’th woone’s while To beät the doust a good six mile To zee the pleäce the squier plann’d At Brookwell, now a-meäde by hand; Wi’ oben lawn, an’ grove, an’ pon’, An’ gravel-walks as cleän as bron; An’ grass a’most so soft to tread As velvet-pile o’ silken thread; An’ […]
Bringen Woone Gwaïn O’ Zundays by William Barnes
Ah! John! how I do love to look At theäse green hollor, an’ the brook Among the withies that do hide The stream, a-growèn at the zide; An’ at the road athirt the wide An’ shallow vword, where we young bwoys Did peärt, when we did goo half-woys, To bring ye gwaïn o’ Zundays. Vor […]
Bob The Fiddler by William Barnes
Oh! Bob the fiddler is the pride O’ chaps an’ maïdens vur an’ wide; They can’t keep up a merry tide, But Bob is in the middle. If merry Bob do come avore ye, He’ll zing a zong, or tell a story; But if you’d zee en in his glory, Jist let en have a […]
Blessens A-Left by William Barnes
Lik’ souls a-toss’d at sea I bore Sad strokes o’ trial, shock by shock, An’ now, lik’ souls a-cast ashore To rest upon the beäten rock, I still do seem to hear the sound O’ weäves that drove me vrom my track, An’ zee my strugglèn hopes a-drown’d, An’ all my jaÿs a-floated back. By […]
Bleäke’s House In Blackmwore by William Barnes
John Bleäke he had a bit o’ ground Come to en by his mother’s zide; An’ after that, two hunderd pound His uncle left en when he died; “Well now,” cried John, “my mind’s a-bent To build a house, an’ paÿ noo rent.” An’ Meäry gi’ed en her consent. “Do, do,”–the maïdens cried “True, true,”–his […]
Blackmwore Maidens by William Barnes
THE PRIMRWOSE in the shade do blow, The cowslip in the zun, The thyme upon the down do grow, The clote where streams do run; An’ where do pretty maidens grow An’ blow, but where the tow’r Do rise among the bricken tuns, In Blackmwore by the Stour. If you could zee their comely gait, […]
The Blackbird by William Barnes
‘Twer out at Penley I’d a-past A zummer day that went too vast, An’ when the zettèn zun did spread On western clouds a vi’ry red; The elems’ leafy limbs wer still Above the gravel-bedded rill, An’ under en did warble sh’ill, Avore the dusk, the blackbird. An’ there, in sheädes o’ darksome yews, Did […]
Bishop’s Caundle by William Barnes
At peace day, who but we should goo To Caundle vor an’ hour or two: As gaÿ a day as ever broke Above the heads o’ Caundle vo’k, Vor peace, a-come vor all, did come To them wi’ two new friends at hwome. Zoo while we kept, wi’ nimble peäce, The wold dun tow’r avore […]
Bees A-Zwarmen by William Barnes
Avore we went a-milkèn, vive Or six o’s here wer all alive A-teäkèn bees that zwarm’d vrom hive; An’ we’d sich work to catch The hummèn rogues, they led us sich A dance all over hedge an’ ditch; An’ then at last where should they pitch, But up in uncle’s thatch? Dick rung a sheep-bell […]
Beauty Undecked by William Barnes
The grass mid sheen when wat’ry beäds O’ dew do glitter on the meäds, An’ thorns be bright when quiv’rèn studs O’ raïn do hang upon their buds– As jewels be a-meäde by art To zet the plaïnest vo’k off smart. But sheäkèn ivy on its tree, An’ low-bough’d laurel at our knee, Be bright […]
Be’mi’ster by William Barnes
Sweet Be’mi’ster, that bist a-bound By green an’ woody hills all round, Wi’ hedges, reachèn up between A thousan’ vields o’ zummer green, Where elems’ lofty heads do drow Their sheädes vor haÿ-meakers below, An’ wild hedge-flow’rs do charm the souls O’ maïdens in their evenèn strolls. When I o’ Zunday nights wi’ Jeäne Do […]
Bad News by William Barnes
I do mind when there broke bitter tidèns, Woone day, on their ears, An’ their souls wer a-smote wi’ a stroke As the lightnèn do vall on the woak, An’ the things that wer bright all around em Seem’d dim drough their tears. Then unheeded wer things in their vingers, Their grief wer their all. […]
Aunt’s Tantrums by William Barnes
Why ees, aunt Anne’s a little staïd, But kind an’ merry, poor wold maïd! If we don’t cut her heart wi’ slights, She’ll zit an’ put our things to rights, Upon a hard day’s work, o’ nights; But zet her up, she’s jis’ lik’ vier, An’ woe betide the woone that’s nigh ‘er. When she […]
Angels By The Door by William Barnes
Oh! there be angels evermwore, A-passèn onward by the door, A-zent to teäke our jaÿs, or come To bring us zome–O Meärianne. Though doors be shut, an’ bars be stout, Noo bolted door can keep em out; But they wull leäve us ev’ry thing They have to bring–My Meärianne. An’ zoo the days a-stealèn by, […]
A Zong Of Harvest Hwome by William Barnes
The ground is clear. There’s nar a ear O’ stannèn corn a-left out now, Vor win’ to blow or raïn to drow; ‘Tis all up seäfe in barn or mow. Here’s health to them that plough’d an’ zow’d; Here’s health to them that reap’d an’ mow’d, An’ them that had to pitch an’ lwoad, Or […]
A Wife A-Praïs’d by William Barnes
‘Twer Maÿ, but ev’ry leaf wer dry All day below a sheenèn sky; The zun did glow wi’ yollow gleäre, An’ cowslips blow wi’ yollow gleäre, Wi’ grægles’ bells a-droopèn low, An’ bremble boughs a-stoopèn low; While culvers in the trees did coo Above the vallèn dew. An’ there, wi’ heäir o’ glossy black, Bezide […]
A-Haulen O’ The Corn by William Barnes
Ah! yesterday, you know, we carr’d The piece o’ corn in Zidelèn Plot, An’ work’d about it pretty hard, An’ vound the weather pretty hot. ‘Twer all a-tied an’ zet upright In tidy hile o’ Monday night; Zoo yesterday in afternoon We zet, in eärnest, ev’ry woone A-haulèn o’ the corn. The hosses, wi’ the […]
A Good Father by William Barnes
No; mind thy father. When his tongue Is keen, he’s still thy friend, John, Vor wolder vo’k should warn the young How wickedness will end, John; An’ he do know a wicked youth Would be thy manhood’s beäne, An’ zoo would bring thee back ageän ‘Ithin the ways o’ truth. An’ mind en still when […]
A Bit O’ Fun by William Barnes
We thought you woulden leäve us quite So soon as what you did last night; Our fun jist got up to a height As you about got hwome. The friskèn chaps did skip about, An’ cou’se the maïdens in an’ out, A-meäkèn such a randy-rout, You coulden hear a drum. An’ Tom, a-springèn after Bet […]
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Invictus [lwptoc] Invictus by William Ernest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but […]
Barmaid by William Ernest Henley
Though, if you ask her name, she says Elise, Being plain Elizabeth, e’en let it pass, And own that, if her aspirates take their ease, She ever makes a point, in washing glass, Handling the engine, turning taps for tots, And countering change, and scorning what men say, Of posing as a dove among the […]
Ballade of Dead Actors by William Ernest Henley
Where are the passions they essayed, And where the tears they made to flow? Where the wild humours they portrayed For laughing worlds to see and know? Othello’s wrath and Juliet’s woe? Sir Peter’s whims and Timon’s gall? And Millamant and Romeo? Into the night go one and all. Where are the braveries, fresh or […]
As Like The Woman As You Can by William Ernest Henley
‘As like the Woman as you can’ – (Thus the New Adam was beguiled) – ‘So shall you touch the Perfect Man’ – (God in the Garden heard and smiled). ‘Your father perished with his day: ‘A clot of passions fierce and blind, ‘He fought, he hacked, he crushed his way: ‘Your muscles, Child, must […]
A Thanksgiving by William Ernest Henley
From brief delights that rise to me Out of unfathomable dole, I thank whatever gods there be For mine unconquerable soul. In the strong clutch of Circumstance It has not winced, nor groaned aloud. Before the blows of eyeless chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. I front unfeared the threat of space And dwindle […]
At Queensferry by William Ernest Henley
The blackbird sang, the skies were clear and clean We bowled along a road that curved a spine Superbly sinuous and serpentine Thro’ silent symphonies of summer green. Sudden the Forth came on us–sad of mien, No cloud to colour it, no breeze to line: A sheet of dark, dull glass, without a sign Of […]
A New Song to an Old Tune by William Ernest Henley
SONS of Shannon, Tamar, Trent, Men of the Lothians, Men of Kent, Essex, Wessex, shore and shire, Mates of the net, the mine, the fire, Lads of the wheel and desk and loom, Noble and trader, squire and groom, Come where the bugles of England play, “Over the hills and far away!” Southern Cross and […]
A Love By The Sea by William Ernest Henley
Out of the starless night that covers me, (O tribulation of the wind that rolls!) Black as the cloud of some tremendous spell, The susurration of the sighing sea Sounds like the sobbing whisper of two souls That tremble in a passion of farewell. To the desires that trebled life in me, (O melancholy of […]
A Late Lark Twitters From The Quiet Skies by William Ernest Henley
the quiet skies: And from the west, Where the sun, his day’s work ended, Lingers as in content, There falls on the old, gray city An influence luminous and serene, A shining peace. The smoke ascends In a rosy-and-golden haze. The spires Shine and are changed. In the valley Shadows rise. The lark sings on. […]
A Dainty Thing’s The Villanelle by William Ernest Henley
A DAINTY thing’s the Villanelle, Sly, musical, a jewel in rhyme, It serves its purpose passing well. A double-clappered silver bell That must be made to clink in chime, A dainty thing’s the Villanelle; And if you wish to flute a spell, Or ask a meeting ‘neath the lime, It serves its purpose passing well. […]
Blithe Dreams Arise To Greet Us by William Ernest Henley
Blithe dreams arise to greet us, And life feels clean and new, For the old love comes to meet us In the dawning and the dew. O’erblown with sunny shadows, O’ersped with winds at play, The woodlands and the meadows Are keeping holiday. Wild foals are scampering, neighing, Brave merles their hautboys blow: Come! let […]
Beside The Idle Summer Sea by William Ernest Henley
Beside the idle summer sea, And in the vacant summer days, Light Love came fluting down the ways, Where you were loitering with me. Who have not welcomed even as we, That jocund minstrel and his lays Beside the idle summer sea And in the vacant summer days? We listened, we were fancy-free; And lo! […]
Ballade Of Youth And Age by William Ernest Henley
Spring at her height on a morn at prime, Sails that laugh from a flying squall, Pomp of harmony, rapture of rhyme – Youth is the sign of them, one and all. Winter sunsets and leaves that fall, An empty flagon, a folded page, A tumble-down wheel, a tattered ball – These are a type […]
Ballade Of Truisms by William Ernest Henley
Gold or silver, every day, Dies to gray. There are knots in every skein. Hours of work and hours of play Fade away Into one immense Inane. Shadow and substance, chaff and grain, Are as vain As the foam or as the spray. Life goes crooning, faint and fain, One refrain: ‘If it could be […]
Ballade Of A Toyokuni Colour-Print by William Ernest Henley
Was I a Samurai renowned, Two-sworded, fierce, immense of bow? A histrion angular and profound? A priest? a porter?–Child, although I have forgotten clean, I know That in the shade of Fujisan, What time the cherry-orchards blow, I loved you once in old Japan. As here you loiter, flowing-gowned And hugely sashed, with pins a-row […]
Ballade Of Midsummer Days And Nights by William Ernest Henley
With a ripple of leaves and a tinkle of streams The full world rolls in a rhythm of praise, And the winds are one with the clouds and beams – Midsummer days! Midsummer days! The dusk grows vast; in a purple haze, While the West from a rapture of sunset rights, Faint stars their exquisite […]
Ballade Made In The Hot Weather by William Ernest Henley
Fountains that frisk and sprinkle The moss they overspill; Pools that the breezes crinkle; The wheel beside the mill, With its wet, weedy frill; Wind-shadows in the wheat; A water-cart in the street; The fringe of foam that girds An islet’s ferneries; A green sky’s minor thirds – To live, I think of these! Of […]
Back-View by William Ernest Henley
I watched you saunter down the sand: Serene and large, the golden weather Flowed radiant round your peacock feather, And glistered from your jewelled hand. Your tawny hair, turned strand on strand And bound with blue ribands together, Streaked the rough tartan, green like heather, That round your lissome shoulder spanned. Your grace was quick […]