Classic Poem

To its ain tune —

1

" Come rede me, dame, come tell me, dame,
" My dame come tell me truly,
" What length o' graith, when weel ca'd hame,
" Will sair a woman duly?"
The carlin clew her wanton tail,
Her wanton tail sae ready —
I learn'd a sang in Annandale,
Nine inch will please a lady. —

2

But for a koontrie c-nt like mine,
In sooth, we're nae sae gentle;
We'll tak tway thumb-bread to the nine,
And that 's a sonsy p-ntle:
O Leeze me on my Charlie lad,
I'll ne'er forget my Charlie!
Tway roarin handfu's and a daud,
He nidge't it in fu' rarely. —

3

But weary fa' the laithron doup,
And may it ne'er be thrivin!
It 's no the length that maks me loup,
But it 's the double drivin. —
Come nidge me, Tam, come nudge me, Tam,
Come nidge me o'er the nyvel!
Come lowse and lug your battering ram,
And thrash him at my gyvel!