Jessie Lee

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Above the timber's bendèn sh'ouds,
  The western wind did softly blow;
  An' up avore the knap, the clouds
  Did ride as white as driven snow.
  Vrom west to east the clouds did zwim
  Wi' wind that plied the elem's lim';
  Vrom west to east the stream did glide,
  A-sheenèn wide, wi' windèn brim.

  How feäir, I thought, avore the sky
  The slowly-zwimmèn clouds do look;
  How soft the win's a-streamèn by;
  How bright do roll the weävy brook:
  When there, a-passèn on my right,
  A-waikèn slow, an' treadèn light,
  Young Jessie Lee come by, an' there
  Took all my ceäre, an' all my zight.

  Vor lovely wer the looks her feäce
  Held up avore the western sky:
  An' comely wer the steps her peäce
  Did meäke a-walkèn slowly by:
  But I went east, wi' beätèn breast,
  Wi' wind, an' cloud, an' brook, vor rest,
  Wi' rest a-lost, vor Jessie gone
  So lovely on, toward the west.

  Blow on, O winds, athirt the hill;
  Zwim on, O clouds; O waters vall,
  Down mæshy rocks, vrom mill to mill;
  I now can overlook ye all.
  But roll, O zun, an' bring to me
  My day, if such a day there be,
  When zome dear path to my abode
  Shall be the road o' Jessie Lee.

© William Barnes