Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset DialectWilliam Barnes
Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect
William Barnes
Poetry
Book language: English
496 pages
A poetry collection by William Barnes in the Dorset dialect, bringing together three earlier volumes of rural verse. The poems sketch country life, seasons, work, and village customs with warmth and close observation. It is worth hearing for its musical dialect and vivid picture of a vanished English countryside.
For teachers and schools: paste the code into your site or blog.
Cover illustration generated by AI.
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Transcriber's Note: Some of the Headings are in 'Old English Text' font, available HERE. The Pronunciation Guide and Word List are at the end of the book. POEMS OF RURAL LIFE IN THE DORSET DIALECT. BY WILLIAM BARNES. 'Tree of Knowledge' and 'Tree of Life' LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & Co., LTD. 1903
TO THE READER. Kind Reader, Two of the three Collections of these Dorset Poems have been, for some time, out of print, and the whole of the three sets are now brought out in one volume. I have little more to say for them, than that the writing of them as glimpses of life and landscape in Dorset, which often open to my memory and mindsight, has given me very much pleasure; and my happiness would be enhanced if I could believe that you would feel my sketches to be so truthful and pleasing as to give you even a small share of pleasure, such as that of the memories from which I have written them. This edition has a list of such Dorset words as are found in the Poems, with some hints on Dorset word shapes, and I hope that they will be found a fully good key to the meanings of the verse. Yours kindly, W. BARNES June 1879. CONTENTS. FIRST COLLECTION. SPRING.
Page The Spring 3 The Woodlands 4 Leädy-Day, an' Riddèn House 5 Easter Zunday 8 Easter Monday 9 Dock-Leaves 9 The Blackbird 10 Woodcom' Feäst 12 The Milk-Maïd o' the Farm 13 The Girt Woak Tree that's in the Dell 15 Vellèn o' the Tree 16 Bringèn Woone Gwaïn o' Zundays 17 Evenèn Twilight 18 Evenèn in the Village 20 May 20 Bob the Fiddler 22 Hope in Spring 23 The White Road up athirt the Hill 24 The Woody Hollow 25 Jenny's Ribbons 26 Eclogue:—The 'Lotments 28 Eclogue:—A Bit o' Sly Coortèn 30 SUMMER. Evenèn, an' Maïdens out at Door 34 The Shepherd o' the Farm 35 Vields in the Light 36 Whitsuntide an' Club Walkèn 37 Woodley 39 The Brook that Ran by Gramfer's 41 Sleep did come wi' the Dew 42
Readnara
