William Barnes sketches a young man’s Easter Sunday in a Dorset village, using the warm, homely dialect of the countryside. Jim puts on his new blue coat with glittering brass buttons, a flower in the buttonhole, a striped waistcoat, and ribbons just below the knees. He’s scrubbed up bright and eager to be noticed. After morning church, he walks the fields and lanes with his sister and cousin, proudly turning to show off his blue back and yellow breast. Nature joins the celebration: lambs play, trees bud, the sun shines, a lark sings, and the dry roads feel like summer has already arrived. Jim’s delight spills over—he even sends the girls shrieking and running. The whole scene hums with innocent, carefree happiness. The speaker’s remembering it fondly, and the dialect keeps the moment close, as if it’s a cherished memory being told aloud.
Easter Zunday — Summary
Last Easter Jim put on his blue Frock cwoat, the vu'st time-vier new; Wi' yollow buttons all o' brass, That glitter'd in the zun lik' glass; An' pok'd 'ithin the button-hole A tutty he'd a-begg'd or stole. A span-new wes-co't, too, he wore, Wi' yellow stripes all down avore; An' tied his breeches' lags below The knee, wi' ribbon in a bow; An' drow'd his kitty-boots azide, An' put his laggens on, an' tied His shoes wi' strings two vingers wide, Because 'twer Easter Zunday.
An' after mornen church wer out He come back hwome, an' stroll'd about All down the vields, an' drough the leane, Wi' sister Kit an' cousin Jeane, A-turnen proudly to their view His yollow breast an' back o' blue. The lambs did play, the grounds wer green, The trees did bud, the zun did sheen; The lark did zing below the sky, An' roads wer all a-blown so dry, As if the zummer wer begun; An' he had sich a bit o' fun! He meade the maidens squeal an' run, Because 'twer Easter Zunday.