THE CLOTE.

_(Water-lily.)_

O zummer clote! when the brook's a-glidèn

So slow an' smooth down his zedgy bed,

Upon thy broad leaves so seäfe a-ridèn

The water's top wi' thy yollow head,

By alder's heads, O,

An' bulrush beds, O.

Thou then dost float, goolden zummer clote!

The grey-bough'd withy's a-leänèn lowly

Above the water thy leaves do hide;

The bendèn bulrush, a-swaÿèn slowly,

Do skirt in zummer thy river's zide;

An' perch in shoals, O,

Do vill the holes, O,

Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote!

Oh! when thy brook-drinkèn flow'r's a-blowèn,

The burnèn zummer's a-zettèn in;

The time o' greenness, the time o' mowèn,

When in the haÿ-vield, wi' zunburnt skin,

The vo'k do drink, O,

Upon the brink, O,

Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote!

Wi' eärms a-spreadèn, an' cheäks a-blowèn,

How proud wer I when I vu'st could zwim

Athirt the pleäce where thou bist a-growèn,

Wi' thy long more vrom the bottom dim;

While cows, knee-high, O,

In brook, wer nigh, O,

Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote!

Ov all the brooks drough the meäds a-windèn,

Ov all the meäds by a river's brim,

There's nwone so feäir o' my own heart's vindèn,

As where the maïdens do zee thee swim,

An' stan' to teäke, O,

Wi' long-stemm'd reäke, O,

Thy flow'r afloat, goolden zummer clote!

Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect · 第 104 / 587 题