C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Jessie Lee
By William Barnes (1801–1886)
A
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.
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-walkèn slow, an’ treadèn light,
Young Jessie Lee come by, an’ there
Took all my ceäre, an’ all my zight.
Held up avore the western sky:
An’ comely wer the steps her peäce
Did meäke a-walkèn slowly by:
But I went east, wi’ beatèn breast,
Wi’ wind, an’ cloud, an’ brook, vor rest,
Wi’ rest a-lost, vor Jessie gone
So lovely on, toward the west.
Zwim on, O clouds; O waters vall,
Down maeshy 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.