Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DRUNKARD'S RAGGIT WEAN, by JAMES P. CRAWFORD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DRUNKARD'S RAGGIT WEAN, by                    
First Line: A wee bit raggit laddie gangs wan'rin through the street
Last Line: An' cherish wi' a parent's care, their puir wee raggit wean.
Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse


A WEE bit raggit laddie gangs wan'rin through the street,
Wadin' 'mang the snaw wi' his wee hackit feet,
Shiverin' i' the cauld blast, greetin' wi' the pain;
Wha's the puir wee callan? he's a drunkard's raggit wean.

He stans at ilka door, an' he keeks wi' wistful' e'e,
To see the crowd aroun' the fire a' laughin' loud wi' glee,
But he daurna venture ben, though his heart be e'er sae fain,
For he maunna play wi' ither bairns, the drunkard's raggit wean.

Oh, see the wee bit bairnie, his heart is unco fou,
The sleet is blawin' cauld, and he's droukit through and through,
He's speerin' for his mither, an' he wun'ers whaur she's gane,
But oh! his mither she forgets her puir wee raggit wean.

He kens nae faither's love, an' he kens nae mither's care,
To soothe his wee bit scrrows, or kame his tautit hair,
To kiss him when he waukens, or smooth his bed at e'en,
An' oh! he fears his faither's face, the drunkard's raggit wean.

Oh pity the wee laddie, sae guileless an' sae young,
The oath that lea's the faither's lip 'll settle on his tongue;
An' sinfu' words his mither speaks his infant lips 'll stain,
For oh! there's nane to guide the bairn, the drunkard's raggit wean.

Then surely we micht try an' turn that sinfu' mither's heart,
An' try to get his faither to act a faither's part,
An' mak them lea' the drunkard's cup, an' never taste again,
An' cherish wi' a parent's care, their puir wee raggit wean.





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