Nature

To th' Swallow

by John Hartley 1839–1915

From Yorkshire Ditties, First Series

Nature

Bonny burd! aw'm fain to see thee,
For tha tells ov breeter weather;
But aw connot quite forgi thee,
Connot love thee altogether.

'Tisn't thee aw fondly welcome--
'Tis the cheerin news tha brings,
Tellin us fine weather will come,
When we see thi dappled wings.

But aw'd rayther have a sparrow,
Rayther hear a robin twitter;
Tho' they may net be thi marrow,
May net fly wi' sich a glitter;

But they niver leeav us, niver--
Storms may come, but still they stay;
But th' first wind 'at ma's thee shiver,
Up tha mounts an' flies away.

Ther's too mony like thee, swallow,
'At when fortun's sun shines breet,
Like a silly buzzard follow,
Doncin raand a bit o' leet.

But ther's few like Robin redbreast,
Cling throo days o' gloom an' care;
Soa aw love mi old tried friends best--
Fickle hearts aw'll freely spare.

MLA

Hartley, John. “To th' Swallow.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hartley_j/1/.

Chicago

Hartley, John. “To th' Swallow.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hartley_j/1/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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