Bright seems the days when I was young
Fra thought, fra care, fra sorrow free;
As wild waves rippled i’ the sun,
Rolled gaily on, and so wi’ me.

More bright the flowers when I was young,
More sweet the birds sang on the tree;
While pleasure and contentment flung
Her smiles on them, and so wi’ me.

The naked truth, I told when young,
Though tempted wi hypocracy;
Though some embraced from it I sprang,
And said it izant so wi’ me.

Aw saw the canting jibs when young,
Of saintly, sulky misery;
Yet poked aw melancholy’s ribs,
And said it izant so wi’ me.

Though monny a stone when aw was young,
His strong upon me memory;
Aw thru when young and hed um flung,
If they forgive ’tis so wi’ me.

Could money buy o’ Nature’s mart,
Again our brightest days to see;
Ther’s monny a wun wod pawn ther shirt,
Or else they’d buy—and so wi me.

Yet after all aw oft luke back,
Without a pang o’ days gone past,
An hope all t’ wreng aw did when young,
May be forgeen to me at last.