from Second-Collection Poems with phonemic transcripts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2018
THE church do zeem a touchèn zight,
When vo'k, a-comèn in at door,
Do softly tread the long-aïl'd vloor -aisled
Below the pillar'd arches’ height,
Wi’ bells a-pealèn,
Vo'k a-kneelèn,
Hearts a-healèn, wi’ the love
An’ peäce a-zent em vrom above.
An’ there, wi’ mild an’ thoughtvul feäce,
Wi’ downcast eyes, an’ vaïces dum’, silent
The wold an’ young do slowly come, old
An’ teäke in stillness each his pleäce,
A-zinkèn slowly,
Kneelèn lowly,
Seekèn holy thoughts alwone,
In praÿ'r avore their Meäker's throne.
An’ there be sons in youthvul pride,
An’ fathers weak wi’ years an’ païn,
An’ daughters in their mother's traïn,
The tall wi’ smaller at their zide;
Heads in murnèn mourning
Never turnèn,
Cheäks a-burnèn, wi’ the het heat
O’ youth, an’ eyes noo tears do wet.
There friends do settle, zide by zide,
The knower speechless to the known;
Their vaïce is there vor God alwone;
To flesh an’ blood their tongues be tied.
Grief a-wringèn,
Jaÿ a-zingèn, joy
Pray'r a-bringèn welcome rest
So softly to the troubled breast.
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