Ah’s coomin’ back fra’ furrin parts,
An’, Aa! Ah’s varra fain
To sec my lahl steean hoose
In Wensleydale again.
It’s grand to finnd oot fur yoursen
T’ waays of ither lands,
But theer is niver nobbut yan
We ooterly onderstands.
North or South or East or West
T’ ony land fur me
Is wheer my singing rivers flow
Doon towards t’ cauld North Sea;
Theer some o’ t’ hills is covered
Wi’ rare short grass an’ bent,
An’ some wi’ ling an’ heather
An’ breet whin’s merriment.
Theer t’ becks is born a-laughin’
An’ ken just hoo to laik,
By t’ alders, pines an’ sycamores,
Fra t’ moors ower t’ green intake.
It’s theer my lahl steean hoose stands,
Wheer Ah had hoped to bide
Thro’ tired days: amang its trees
Mony a bird can hide;
It’s theer Ah planned ‘at Ah wud be
While t’ world Ah had to leave, . . .
But Ah live in a girt hoose noo,
An’ fur my lahl hoose grieve;
Aa! when Ah’s sad, or worn, or ill,
Ah’s allus terrible fain
To finnd my way fra’ ony airt
To that sweet place again;
But noo theer’s strangers livin’ theer;
So Ah mun go at neet
Doon dream-roads to its yatsteead,*
An’ leave afore day-leet.
(Dorothy Una Ratcliffe)
More Poetry from Dorothy Una Ratcliffe:
Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems based on Topics: Birds, Sadness- T' Farmeress To Her Son On Active Service (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
- Song for a Gathering of Yorkshiremen (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
- Granny Mat To Her Granddaughter Matilda (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
- Japonica (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
- A Dialogue (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
- Girl To Her Chance-Bairn (Dorothy Una Ratcliffe Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Sadness Poems, Birds PoemsBased on Keywords: laik, sycamores, niver, theer, wud, whin, wheer, hoose, nobbut, neet, hoo