The Carter

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O, I be a carter, wi' my whip
  A-smackèn loud, as by my zide,
  Up over hill, an' down the dip,
  The heavy lwoad do slowly ride.

  An' I do haul in all the crops,
  An' I do bring in vuzz vrom down;
  An' I do goo vor wood to copse,
  An' car the corn an' straw to town.

  An' I do goo vor lime, an' bring
  Hwome cider wi' my sleek-heäir'd team,
  An' smack my limber whip an' zing,
  While all their bells do gaïly cheeme.

  An' I do always know the pleäce
  To gi'e the hosses breath, or drug;
  An' ev'ry hoss do know my feäce,
  An' mind my '_mether ho_! an' _whug_!

  An' merry haÿ-meäkers do ride
  Vrom vield in zummer wi' their prongs,
  In my blue waggon, zide by zide
  Upon the reäves, a-zingèn zongs.

  An' when the vrost do catch the stream,
  An' oves wi' icicles be hung,
  My pantèn hosses' breath do steam
  In white-grass'd vields, a-haulèn dung.

  An' mine's the waggon fit vor lwoads,
  An' mine be lwoads to cut a rout;
  An' mine's a team, in routy rwoads,
  To pull a lwoaded waggon out.

  A zull is nothèn when do come
  Behind their lags; an' they do teäke
  A roller as they would a drum,
  An' harrow as they would a reäke.

  O! I be a carter, wi' my whip
  A-smackèn loud, as by my zide,
  Up over hill, an' down the dip,
  The heavy lwoad do slowly ride.

© William Barnes