The Milkin’-Time

J. H. Dixon (1803-1876)

Meet me at the fowd at the milkin’-time,
Whan the dusky sky is gowd at the milkin’-time;
Whan the fog(1) is slant(2) wi’ dew,
An’ the clocks(3) go hummin’ thro’
The wick-sets(4) an’ the branches of the owmerin’(5) yew.

Weel ye knaw the hour of the milkin’-time,
The girt bell sounds frev t’ tower at the milkin’-time;
Bud as gowd sooin turns to gray,
An’ I cannot have delay,
Dunnot linger by the way at the milkin’-time.

Ye’ll find a lass at’s true at the milkin’-time,
Shoo thinks of nane bud you at the milkin’-time;
Bud my fadder’s gittin’ owd,
An’ he’s gien a bit to scowd,
Whan I’s ower lang at the fowd at the milkin’-time.

Happen ye’re afeard at the milkin’-time;
Mebbe loike ye’ve heerd at the milkin’-time
The green fowk shak their feet,
Whan t’ moon on Heeside’s breet,
An’ it chances so to-neet, at the milkin’-time.

There’s yan, an’ he knaws weel whan it’s milkin’-time;
He’d feace the varra de’il at the milkin’-time.
He’d nut be yan to wait
Tho’ a barguest(6) war i’ t’ gate,(7)
If the word I’d nobbud say ’t at the milkin’-time.

1. Aftermath. 2. Wet. 3. Beetles 4. Quick-sets. 5. Overshadowing
6. The barguest is an apparition, taking usually the form of a big black dog with saucer eyes. 7. Way, road.