Dire Nakedness



But now alas my charms are done 
For shepherds & for thee 
The cow boy with his green is gone 
& every bush & tree 
Dire nakedness oer all prevails 
Yon fallows bare & brown 
Is all beset wi' post & rails 
& turned upside down
The gentley curving darksom bawks 
That stript the Cornfields oer 
& provd the Shepherds daily walks 
Now prove his walks no more 
The plough has had them under hand 
& over turnd 'em all 
& now along the elting Land 
Poor swains are forcd to maul

bawks = narrow strip of grass between ploughed strips
elting = damp, new ploughed soil
maul = plod with difficulty

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