Evenén in the Village

NOW the light o' the west is a-turn'd to gloom,

   An' the men be at hwome vrom ground;

An' the bells be a-zendén all down the Coombe

   From tower, their mwoansome sound.

         An' the wind is still,

      An' the house-dogs do bark,

An' the rooks be a-vled to the elems high an' dark,

   An' the water do roar at mill.

An' the flickerén light drough the window-peäne

   Vrom the candle's dull fleäme do shoot,

An' young Jemmy the smith is a-gone down leäne,

   A-plaÿén his shrill-vaiced flute.

         An' the miller's man,

      Do zit down at his ease

On the seat that is under the cluster o' trees,

   Wi' his pipe an' his cider can.

William Barnes

Index to poems in the collection by William Barnes