Once, in the old days, I sailed on the sea;
When I can I d'still go on board.
But I'll tell'ee how suddenly life changed for me
On that day when I first saw the Lord.
'Twas brave and hot on that bright summer's day,
With nary a breeze to blow cool;
Jes' a raunish ol' padgypaows ruxlin' away
While a quylkyn craked down by a pool.
As I sat by the side of the salt-silver sea
By the nets crumpled up on the ground,
My soul, I was happy as happy could be
With the cheelder-vean coosin' round.
I had crowst in my bag, and a good dish o' tae,
An' nawthin' to do 'til the night
Save to beety a hole where the fish went astray
An' check the whole net was pulled tight.
So I worked off an' on on they net-knots all day
With the midsummer sun beatin' strong;
After crowst, gulgin' tae, my eyes teened; an, 'es fey,
'Twas a typical day all along.
"Fitty are 'ee then boy?" come a voice
through the air;
I awoke to see Andrew had come;
My brother, 'a was, a big man an' fair,
An' his voice beat the air like a drum.
As us talked in the dimmity, slow-movin' air,
Strakin' along on the beach,
Us was conscious that somehow, us didn' knaw from where,
A stranger appeared in the seech.
"Knawest'n?" said Andrew. "Never seen'n." said I -
Next minute, i' facks, us was mazed;
His face was all gliddery, head held up high;
Us jes' stood there bedwaddled an' glazed!
"Who are you?" He asked, an' us scarce
could reply;
Then I clunked an' said: "Fishermen we,
An' we'm jes' settin' out sir, now night's in the sky.
There's a catch to be had in the sea."
"Not just in the sea. Leave your nets."
He smiled. "Come,
Do not worry - you'll see them again."
Through my still-whirlin' mind seared His call: "Petroc, come -
I will make you both fishers of men."
