Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

Coom, don on thy Bonnet an' Shawl (1867)

     Thomas Blackah

     Coom, don on thy bonnet an' shawl,
        An' straighten thy cap an' thy hair;
     I's really beginnin' to stall(1)
        To see thee sit dazzin'(2) i' t' chair.

     Sea coom, let us tak a walk oot,
        For t' air is as warm as a bee;
     I hennot(3) a morsel o' doot
        It'll help beath lile Willy an' thee.

     We'll gan reet throo t' Middle Toon,
        As far as to Reavensgill Heead(4);
     When thar, we can sit wersens doon
        On t' crags close at side o' t' becksteead.

     An' then, oh! hoo grand it'll be
        To pass a few minutes away,
     An' listen t' birds sing on each tree
        Their carols for closin' the day.

     An' all aboot t' green nobby hills,
        T' lile daisies their beauties will show;
     An' t' perfume at Flora distils
        Like breath o' the mornin' will blow.

     Then don on thy bonnet an' shawl,
        An' coom let's be walkin' away;
     I's fairly beginnin' to stall
        To see thee sit dazzin' all t' day.

     1 Grow tired.  2. Dozing.  3. Have not.
     4. Near Pateley Bridge.