'Wife A-Lost, The' by William Barnes


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Since I noo mwore do zee your fe{"a}ce,
Up ste{"a}rs or down below,
I'll zit me in the lwonesome ple{"a}ce,
Where flat-bough'd beech do grow;
Below the beeches' bough, my love,
Where you did never come,
An' I don't look to meet ye now,
As I do look at hwome.

Since you noo mwore be at my zide,
In walks in zummer het,
I'll goo alwone where mist do ride,
Drough trees a-drippèn wet;
Below the ra{"i}n-wet bough, my love,
Where you did never come,
An' I don't grieve to miss ye now,
As I do grieve at hwome.

Since now bezide my dinner-bwoard
Your va{"i}ce do never sound,
I'll eat the bit I can avword,
A-vield upon the ground;
Below the darksome bough, my love,
Where you did never dine,
An' I don't grieve to miss ye now,
As I at hwome do pine.

Since I do miss your va{"i}ce an' fe{"a}ce
In pra{"y}er at eventide,
I'll pray wi' woone sad va{"i}ce vor gre{"a}ce
To goo where you do bide;
Above the tree an' bough, my love,
Where you be gone avore,
An' be a-w{"a}itèn vor me now,
To come vor evermwore.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Wife A-Lost: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression by William Barnes

When it comes to traditional English poetry, William Barnes is a name that often escapes the tongues of most readers. However, his work is an essential part of the English literary canon, especially when it comes to the preservation of Dorset dialect. Barnes was a poet, linguist, and a man of letters, and he is best known for his poetry that reflects the rustic language of the Dorset countryside. One of his most remarkable works is the poem, Wife A-Lost, which was published in 1844. Wife A-Lost is a heart-wrenching poem that tells the story of a man who has lost his wife to death, and the emotions that he must endure as a result.

Structure and Form

Wife A-Lost is a poem that is written in a ballad form, consisting of four-line stanzas, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The form of this poem allows for the story to be told in a simple and straightforward manner, which is a perfect reflection of the unadorned language of the Dorset dialect that Barnes uses throughout the poem. The poem is divided into five sections. The first section sets the scene and introduces the protagonist, the second section tells the story of the wife's death, the third section focuses on the husband's grief, the fourth section is about his struggle to come to terms with his wife's death, and the fifth and final section brings the poem to a close, with the husband accepting his loss and moving on with his life.

Language and Themes

The language used in Wife A-Lost is what makes it such a remarkable work of poetry. Barnes employs the Dorset dialect throughout the poem, which gives it a unique and authentic feel. This dialect is rich in words that describe the Dorset countryside, and the language is also reflective of the rural lifestyle of the people who live there. The use of this dialect is not just a stylistic choice; it also serves to create a sense of place and time that is integral to the poem.

The central theme of Wife A-Lost is grief and how it affects the husband who has lost his wife. Barnes shows the reader the depth of the man's sorrow, and the poem is a testament to the enduring pain that comes with losing a loved one. The poem also explores the idea of acceptance and moving on. The husband ultimately comes to terms with his loss, and this is seen as a necessary step in his journey towards healing.

Analysis

The first section of the poem introduces the reader to the husband and his wife. The language used in this section is simple and descriptive. Barnes paints a picture of a happy and contented couple who live in the Dorset countryside. The stanza "An' after veour han'years ha' past" sets the scene and establishes the relationship between the husband and wife. The use of the word "veour" (our) is indicative of the Dorset dialect and the sense of community that is inherent in it.

The second section of the poem is where the story takes a darker turn. Barnes describes the wife's illness and her eventual death. The language is stark and powerful, with lines such as "An' then her cheaks began to vou'll,/ Her lips to lose their red." The use of the word "vou'll" (waste away) is particularly evocative, as it conjures up an image of the wife fading away before the husband's eyes.

The third section of the poem focuses on the husband's grief. Barnes describes how the husband is consumed by his sorrow and how he is unable to find comfort in anything. The use of the word "ween" (think) in the line "An' ween that all the world's gone wrong" is particularly poignant, as it shows how the husband's grief has affected his perception of the world around him.

The fourth section of the poem is where the husband begins to come to terms with his loss. Barnes describes how the husband begins to accept that his wife is gone and how he must learn to live without her. The line "An' can but think in thought an' prayer" shows how the husband has turned to religion as a way of finding solace.

The final section of the poem brings the poem to a close, with the husband accepting his loss and moving on with his life. Barnes uses simple language to describe the husband's acceptance, with lines such as "An' I can zee her smilèn down" and "An' though her body's dead an' gone." These lines show how the husband has come to terms with his wife's death and how he is no longer consumed by his grief.

Conclusion

Wife A-Lost is a masterpiece of poetic expression that showcases William Barnes' skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the Dorset dialect. The poem is a powerful exploration of grief and the human condition, and it is a testament to the enduring pain that comes with losing a loved one. Barnes' use of simple language and the Dorset dialect creates a sense of time and place that is integral to the poem, and it allows the reader to connect with the protagonist on a deeper level. Wife A-Lost is a remarkable work of poetry and a must-read for anyone who loves traditional English verse.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

William Barnes’ “A-Lost, The” is a classic poem that explores the theme of loss and the pain that comes with it. The poem is written in the form of a dialogue between a husband and wife, with the wife expressing her grief over the loss of their child. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of grief and the human experience of loss.

The poem begins with the husband asking his wife why she is crying. The wife responds by saying that she is crying because she has lost something that she loved. The husband then asks her what she has lost, and the wife responds by saying that she has lost their child. The husband tries to comfort his wife by telling her that their child is not lost, but rather has gone to a better place. However, the wife is inconsolable and continues to weep.

The poem is a powerful reflection on the nature of grief and the human experience of loss. The wife’s grief is palpable and the reader can feel her pain as she weeps for her lost child. The husband’s attempts to comfort his wife are also poignant, as he tries to reassure her that their child is in a better place. However, the wife’s grief is too strong and she cannot be comforted.

The poem is also a reflection on the nature of love and the bond between a parent and child. The wife’s grief is a testament to the depth of her love for her child, and the pain that comes with losing someone that you love. The husband’s attempts to comfort his wife are also a testament to the strength of their bond as a couple, as he tries to be there for his wife in her time of need.

The poem is also a reflection on the nature of death and the afterlife. The husband’s reassurance that their child is in a better place is a reflection of the belief in an afterlife and the idea that death is not the end. The poem is a beautiful reflection on the human experience of death and the belief in something beyond this life.

The language of the poem is also beautiful and evocative. The use of the word “lost” in the title of the poem is particularly poignant, as it captures the sense of something that has been taken away and cannot be found. The use of the word “weep” to describe the wife’s tears is also powerful, as it captures the depth of her grief.

Overall, William Barnes’ “A-Lost, The” is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of grief and the human experience of loss. The poem is a testament to the strength of love and the bond between a parent and child, as well as a reflection on the nature of death and the afterlife. The language of the poem is also beautiful and evocative, capturing the depth of the wife’s grief and the power of her emotions.

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