Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MILKING SONG, by WILLIAM SHARP


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A MILKING SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O sweet st. Bride of the yellow, yellow hair
Last Line: Briget, bride!
Alternate Author Name(s): Macleod, Fiona
Variant Title(s): The Kye-song Of St. Bride
Subject(s): Brides; Brigid Of Ireland, Saint (453-523); Faith; Paul, Saint (1st Century); Peter, Saint (c. 64 A.d.); Saints; Bridget, Saint; Brigit Of Kildare, Saint; Belief; Creed; Saul Of Tarsus


O sweet St. Bride of the
Yellow, yellow hair:
Paul said, and Peter said,
And all the saints alive or dead
Vowed she had the sweetest head,
Bonnie, sweet St. Bride of the
Yellow, yellow hair.

White may my milkin' be,
White as thee:
Thy face is white, thy neck is white,
Thy hands are white, thy feet are white,
For thy sweet soul is shinin' bright—
O dear to me,
O dear to see
St. Briget white!

Yellow may my butter be,
Firm, and round:
Thy breasts are sweet,
Firm, round and sweet,
So may my butter be:
So may my butter be O
Briget sweet!

Safe thy way is, safe, O
Safe, St. Bride:
May my kye come home at even,
None be fallin', none be leavin',
Dusky even, breath-sweet even,
Here, as there, where O
St. Bride thou
Keepest tryst with God in heav'n,
Seest the angels bow
And souls be shriven—
Here, as there, 'tis breath-sweet even
Far and wide—
Singeth thy little maid
Safe in thy shade
Briget, Bride!





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