The Lark

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As I, below the mornèn sky,
  Wer out a workèn in the lew
  O' black-stemm'd thorns, a-springèn high,
  Avore the worold-boundèn blue,
  A-reäkèn, under woak tree boughs,
  The orts a-left behin' by cows.

  Above the grey-grow'd thistle rings,
  An' deäisy-buds, the lark, in flight,
  Did zing a-loft, wi' flappèn wings,
  Tho' mwore in heärèn than in zight;
  The while my bwoys, in plaÿvul me'th,
  Did run till they wer out o' breath.

  Then woone, wi' han'-besheäded eyes,
  A-stoppèn still, as he did run,
  Look'd up to zee the lark arise
  A-zingèn to the high-gone zun;
  The while his brother look'd below
  Vor what the groun' mid have to show

  Zoo woone did watch above his head
  The bird his hands could never teäke;
  An' woone, below, where he did tread,
  Vound out the nest within the breäke;
  But, aggs be only woonce a-vound,
  An' uncaught larks ageän mid sound.

© William Barnes