WHEN I'se been by Tiber an' when I'se been by Seine,
Listenin' theer messages, I lang to hear agen
Secrets of home-watters, born amang moor-sedges,
Fallin' doon like sparklin' ale ower steean ridges.
An' when I'se been by Danube, an' when I'se been by Rhine,
Tryin' to onderstand 'cm, my homin' heart 'ud pine
For t' music o' my ain becks 'at spring 'mang boggy peat,
Wheer lapwings cry an' moorlarks lift prayers sae pure an' sweet.
Missouri an' St. Lawrence, Volga an' Thames an' Dee,
All on 'em are varra fine, but niver t' same to me
As rivers 'at are singin' wheer my faither speech prevails,
A-crinklin' an' a-crinklin' doon my forsaken Dales.
Notes
Aire, Wharfe, Nidd, Ure and Swale are 5 of the major rivers (and dales) of Yorkshire.
This was taken from “Under T’Hawthorn” by Dorothy Una Ratcliffe published by Frederick Muller 1946 page 62
This was in a section called "Aboot Places".sic
The more uncommon dialect words can be found in a glossary at http://allpoetry.com/column/show/2344003
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