The Dorset Shepherd

This statue is in Durngate St in Dorchester opposite the Potter's Cafe. I called in there this morning . It's a beautifully sculpted bronze statue inspired by the Dorset dialect poet William Barnes. He wrote a poem called 'The Shepherd of the Farm'.Even thomas Hardy recognised Barnes as an equal. John Doubleday made the sculpture seeing it as a tribute to quiet heroism and wisdom.
He said ' We look back at the values of a past age, to men who were intelligent wise and interesting people.They were in harmony with the seasons and the natural world and probably had more to teach us than we could possibly teach them.
'I think this is so true.
The plaque near the statue says
' An' I do abide all day among
The bleaten sheep, an' pitch their vwold
An' when the evenen sheades be long
Do zee em all a-penn'd an 'twold.'
The eyes of the dog are very blue - i wonder if someone painted them after??!