What a plague is this o' mine, Winna steek an e'e; Though I hap him o'er the heid, As cozy 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 airm 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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY ON THE DEATH OF MR. CRASHAW by ABRAHAM COWLEY MY AIN COUNTREE by ALLAN CUNNINGHAM ON LORD HOLLAND'S SEAT NEAR MARGATE, KENT by THOMAS GRAY MARY MAGDALENE by GEORGE HERBERT SONNET: ONE NEW YEAR'S EVE by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON OCTOBER XXIX, 1795 (KEATS' BIRTHDAY) by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE |