HOW mony times have I told thee
Niver to fasten t’ stable door
At t’ edge o’ dark on t’ shortenin’ neets?
Leave it ajar, I tell thee, for
Swallows to flitter in an’ oot.
Last year they built their nest nigh t’ stall,
An’ year afore below t’ hay loft,
An’ three years sin’ at top o’ t’ wall.
How can they feed their young at dawn
If t’ door is bolted? They mun know
We’re fain they’ve coom. T’ nestlings will larn
To fly an’ varra soon they’ll grow
That tame they’ll feed oot of our hands.
A bonnier seet thoo’ll niver see
Nor them white-breasted parent birds
Larnin’ ther young finnd liberty.
So, Sitha! leave yon door ajar
Then swallows day an’ neet are able
To coom an’ go. We’ll mak’ ’em feel
They are reet welcome in t’ owd stable!
(Dorothy Una Ratcliffe)
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Based on Topics: Liberty & Freedom PoemsBased on Keywords: owd, niver, oot, reet, loft, neet, seet, larn, varra, mun, coom