Tag Archives: Walter Russell

My Orchard in Linden Lea

Under the Apple Trees. Sir Walter Westley Rusell.

 

My Orchard in Linden Lea

William Barnes (Common English version)

 

Within the woodlands, flow’ry gladed,

By the oak tree’s mossy root,

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 for 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-leav’d fruit’s 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-roomed towns—

I don’t dread a peevish master,

Though no man do 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.

 

A Little Poetry—The original poem, “My Orcha’d in Linden Lea,” by William Barnes was written in the Dorset dialect. It begins “‘Ithin the woodlands, flow’ry gleaded;/ By the woak tree’s mossy moot,/ The sheenan grass bleads, timber sheaded,/ Now do quiver under voot.”

A Little Music—The composer Ralph Vaughan Williams set to music this poem in common English and another by Barnes—”In the Spring.” You can listen to a beautiful choral recording of the song “Linden Lea” at You Tube. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvoYHwYDYLA>