The Rwose In The Dark

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In zummer, leäte at evenèn tide,
  I zot to spend a moonless hour
  'Ithin the window, wi' the zide
  A-bound wi' rwoses out in flow'r,
  Bezide the bow'r, vorsook o' birds,
  An' listen'd to my true-love's words.

  A-risèn to her comely height,
  She push'd the swingèn ceäsement round;
  And I could hear, beyond my zight,
  The win'-blow'd beech-tree softly sound,
  On higher ground, a-swayèn slow,
  On drough my happy hour below.

  An' tho' the darkness then did hide
  The dewy rwose's blushèn bloom,
  He still did cast sweet aïr inside
  To Jeäne, a-chattèn in the room;
  An' though the gloom did hide her feäce,
  Her words did bind me to the pleäce.

  An' there, while she, wi' runnèn tongue,
  Did talk unzeen 'ithin the hall,
  I thought her like the rwose that flung
  His sweetness vrom his darken'd ball,
  'Ithout the wall, an' sweet's the zight
  Ov her bright feäce by mornèn light.

© William Barnes