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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BARLEY BROTH, by SUSANNA BLAMIRE Poet's Biography First Line: If tempers were put up to seale Last Line: A wretched or a happy weyfe! Alternate Author Name(s): Muse Of Cumberland; Sukey, Miss Subject(s): Cooking & Cooks; Marriage; Cookery; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | |||
Air—Crowdy If tempers were put up to seale, Our Jwohn's wad bear a duced preyce; He vow'd 'twas barley i' the broth,— Upon my word, says I, it's reyce. "I mek nea faut," our Jwohnny says, "The broth is guid and varra neyce; I only say—it's barley broth." Tou says what's wrang, says I, it's reyce. "Did ever mortal hear the leyke! As if I hadn't sense to tell! Tou may think reyce the better thing, But barley broth dis just as well." "And sae it mud, if it was there; The deil a grain is i' the pot; But tou mun ayways threep yen down,— I've drawn the deevil of a lot!" "And what's the lot that I have drawn? Pervarsion is a woman's neame! Sae fares-te-weel! I'll sarve my king, And never, never mair come heame." Now Jenny frets frae mworn to neet; The Sunday cap's nae langer neyce; She aye puts barley i' the broth, And hates the varra neame o' reyce. Thus treyfles vex, and treyfles please, And treyfles mek the sum o' leyfe; And treyfles mek a bonny lass A wretched or a happy weyfe! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV THE SILLER CROUN by SUSANNA BLAMIRE |
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