Th'Owd Verses've T'Dales

(Translation: Traditional Poetry of Yorkshire)

Aar Maggie

Edmund Hatton

I believe aar Maggie's coortin',
For shoo dresses hersen so smart,
An' shoo's allus runnin' to t' window
When there's ony o' t' chaps abaat:
Shoo willent wear her owd shawl,
Bud dons a bonnet atstead,
An' laps her can in her gaan
As shoo goes to t' weyvin' ,shed.

Of a neet wi' snoddened hair,
An' cheeks like a summers cherry,
An' lips fair assin' for kisses,
An' een so black an' so merry,
Shoo taks her knittin' to t' meadows,
An' sits in a shady newk,
An' knits while shoo sighs an' watches
Wi' a dreamy, lingerin' lewk.

Thus knittin', sighin' an' watchin',
Shoo caars aat on t' soft meadow grass,
Listenin' to t' murmurin' brooklet,
An' waitin' for t' sweethear't to pass;
Shoo drops her wark i' her appron,
An' glints aat on t' settin' sun,
An' wonders if he goes a-courtin'
When his long day's wark is done.

When shoo hears t' chap's fooitsteps comin',
Shoo rises wi' modest grace;
Ay, Mag, thou sly, lovin' lassie,
For shame o' thy bashful face!
Shoo frames to be goin' home'ards,
As he lilts ower t' stile,
Bud when he comes anent herr,
Shoo gies him sich a smile.

Then he places his arm araand her,
An' shoo creeps cloise to his side,
An' leyns her heead on his waiscoit,
An' walks wi' an air o' pride.
Bud oh! you sud see her glances,
An' oh! you sud hear 'em kiss,
When they pairt thro' one another!
If shoo isn't coortin', who is?