Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

The New Moon

     A Setterday's mean
     Cooms yance i' seven year ower sean.

I see t' mean an' t' mean sees me,
     God bless t' sailors oot on t' sea.

New mean, new mean, I hail thee,
     This neet my true love for to see.
     Not iv his best or worst array,
     Bud iv his apparel for ivery day.
     That I to-morrow may him ken
     Frev amang all other men.

Eevein' red an' mornin' gray:
     Certain signs o' a bonnie day.
     Evenin' gray an' mornin' red
     Will send t' shepherd weet to bed.

Souther, wind, souther!(1)
     An' blaw my father heame to my moother.(2)

     1. Veer to the south.
     2. This is the lilt of the children of the east-coast fishermen when
        the boats are at sea.