Comment 3 of 4, added on April 10th, 2005 at 4:29 PM.

Okay, so "believe," right? i before e except after c or something. Still not as bad as the poem. I understand the poem is written in dialect. To make everyone happy, the (today) correct wording of this poem.

Within the woodlands, flow'ry gladed,
By the oak trees' mossy moot,
The shining grass blades, timber shaded,
Now do quiver under foot;
And birds do whistle overhead,
And water's bubbling in its bed;
And there o'er me the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.

When leaves, that lately were a-springing,
Now do fade within the copse,
And painted birds do hush their singing,
Up upon the timber tops;
And brown-leaved fruits a-turning red,
In cloudless sunshine overhead,
With fruit for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.

Let other folk make money faster,
In the air of dark-room'd towns;
I don't dread a peevish master,
Though no man may heed my frowns.
I be free to go abroad,
Or take again my homeward road,
To where, for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.

It's also been put to melodic genius by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

Bryan from United States

Comment 1 of 4, added on January 11th, 2005 at 5:26 PM.

If you are going to post a poem it should definately have no typos. I belive it is degrading to William Barnes that his can be published on the web with such terrible spelling.

Hannah from United States