Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

The Witch's Curse(1)

     Traditional

           Fire coom,
           Fire gan,
           Curlin' smeak
           Keep oot o' t' pan.
     Ther's a tead(2) i' t' fire, a frog on t' hob,
     Here's t' heart frev a crimson ask(3);
     Here's a teath fra t' heead
     O' yan at's deead,
     At niver gat thruf his task.
     Here's prick'd i' blood a maiden's prayer,
     At t' ee o' man maunt(4) see;
     It's prick'd upon a yet warm mask,(5)
     An' lapp'd(6) aboot a breet green ask,
     An' it's all fer him an' thee.
           It boils,
           Thoo'll drink;
           He'll speak,
           Thoo'll think:
           It boils,
           Thoo'll see;
           He'll speak,
           Thoo'll dee.

     1 From R. Blakeborough's T' Hunt o' Yatton Brigg, p. 12; see
     also the same author's Yorkshire Wit, Character, Folklore, and
     Customs, p. 169.
     2. Toad.  3. Newt.  4. May not.  5, Brew.  6. Wrapped.