Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WILLIE WINKIE, by WILLIAM MILLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WILLIE WINKIE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Wee willie winkie rins through the town
Last Line: To me.
Alternate Author Name(s): Laureate Of The Nursery
Subject(s): Babies; Mothers; Infants


WEE Willie Winkie rins through the town,
Up stairs and doon stairs, in his nicht-gown,
Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock,
"Are the weans in their bed? -- for it 's now ten
o'clock."
Hey, Willie Winkie! are ye comin' ben?
The cat's singin' gay thrums to the sleepin' hen,
The doug's speldered on the floor, and disna gie
a cheep;
But here's a waukrife laddie, that winna fa'
asleep.
Only thing but sleep, ye rogue: -- glow'rin' like the
moon,
Rattlin' in an airn jug wi' an airn spoon,
Rumblin', tumblin' roun' about, crawin' like a
cock,
Skirlin' like a kenna-what -- wauknin' sleepin'
folk!
Hey, Willie Winkie! the wean's in a creel!
Waumblin' aff a bodie's knee like a vera eel,
Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravellin' a' her
thrums:
Hey, Willie Winkie! -- See, there he comes!
Wearie is the mither that has a storie wean,
A wee stumpie stoussie, that canna rin his lane,
That has a battle aye wi' sleep, before he'll close
an ee;
But a kiss frae aff his rosy lips gies strength anew
to me.




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