Poems of Rural Life in Common English By William Barnes |
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JOHN TALKING ANGRILY
OF A NEIGHBOUR BEFORE AN ECHO
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 | Poems of Rural Life in Common English |  |
143
JOHN TALKING ANGRILY OF A NEIGHBOUR BEFORE AN ECHO
Who is he? I should like to be told;
What is he? I should wish him to show;
Why the Brines' name will stand good for gold,
While the Browns are a set that none know.
Echo.
What is he? I should wish him to show;
Why the Brines' name will stand good for gold,
While the Browns are a set that none know.
No, no.
No, I'm not asham'd of my place;
No, I'm not asham'd of my name;
No, I can well hold up my face,
While he must hang his down for shame.
Echo.
No, I'm not asham'd of my name;
No, I can well hold up my face,
While he must hang his down for shame.
For shame!
144
Since now he bestrides an old mare,
His lips, O with pride how they pout!
Though his feet once trudged about bare,
When I had a horse to ride out.
Echo.
His lips, O with pride how they pout!
Though his feet once trudged about bare,
When I had a horse to ride out.
I doubt.
No, he's not too safe from a fall:
If a half I am told is but true,
I could very soon make him look small,
With a turn I could very well do.
Echo.
If a half I am told is but true,
I could very soon make him look small,
With a turn I could very well do.
Well do.
His pride would have come to an end
Long ago, as it must bye-and-bye,
If I had not stood for his friend
As I did, and the greater oaf I.
Echo.
Long ago, as it must bye-and-bye,
If I had not stood for his friend
As I did, and the greater oaf I.
O fie!
145
I may be a little foreright,
But I never would do on the sly
Little doings, not fit for the light;
You will never find me in a lie.
Echo.
But I never would do on the sly
Little doings, not fit for the light;
You will never find me in a lie.
A lie.
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