Classic Poem

What a plague is this o' mine,
— Winna steek an e'e;
Though I hap him o'er the heid,
— As cosy as can be.
Sleep an' let me to my wark —
— A' thae claes to airn —
Jenny wi' the airn teeth,
— Come an' tak' the bairn!

Tak' him to your ain den,
— Whaur the bogie bides,
But first put baith your big teeth
— In his wee plump sides;
Gie your auld gray pow a shake,
— Rive him frae my grup,
Tak' him whaur nae kiss is gaun
— When he waukens up.

Whatna noise is that I hear
— Coomin' doon the street?
Weel I ken the dump, dump,
— O' her beetle feet;
Mercy me! she's at the door!
— Hear her lift the sneck;
Wheesht, an' cuddle mammy noo,
— Closer roun' the neck.

Jenny wi' the airn teeth,
— The bairn has aff his claes;
Sleepin' safe an' soun', I think —
— Dinna touch his taes.
Sleepin' bairns are no for you,
— Ye may turn aboot,
An' tak' awa' wee Tam next door —
— I hear him screichin' oot.

Dump, dump, awa' she gangs
— Back the road she cam',
I hear her at the ither door,
— Speirin' after Tam;
He's a crabbit, greetin' thing —
— The warst in a' the toon,
Little like my ain wee wean —
— Losh, he's sleepin' soun'!

Mithers hae an awfu' wark
— Wi' their bairns at nicht,
Chappin' on the chair wi' tangs,
— To gie the rogues a fricht;
Aulder bairns are fleyed wi' less,
— Weel eneuch we ken,
Bigger bogies, bigger Jennies,
— Frichten muckle men.