Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GRANNIE MIRK: A HAMILTON GRANNIE, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: As she lay on her bed, frail, dowie, an' dune Last Line: Bless a' his sair labours, protect an' provide! Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Death; Grandparents; Mothers & Sons; Dead, The; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers | ||||||||
As she lay on her bed, frail, dowie, an' dune, The neebors a' thocht that her en' wad be sune; That mornin' a gent had cum in frae the toun To speir for her weelfare, an' sat himsel' doun. "Hoo's a' wi' ye, grannie? an' whan did ye hear Frae Davie, yer son? it's o' him I wad speir, Wha has travell'd sae far through forest an' flood, Wi' his life in his haun, for the hale warl's gude. "Thou art blest amang mithers; nae leddy or queen Has gi'en sic a son to the kintra, I ween; He's an honour to Scotlan', an' lang afterhen He's laid in the mools, he'll be blest amang men." Auld grannie lay still, sae contentit to hear The praise o' her son sae duteous an' dear; She leuk'd in his face, and said" Bide ye a wee, I've something o' Davie's will please ye to see." "Gae, Jeanie, my dochter," then grannie began, "Bring Davie's hauf-croon, it's the first that he wan; A studgel bit callan he brocht it to me 'That's the erles o' mair, my mither,' quo' he. "An' mony lang years after he gi'ed me this, My Davie cam' back his auld mither to bless, Frae far-awa' lan's, whaur the black bodies bide, An' fo'k gi'ed him welcome wi' pleasure an' pride. "They honour'd an' prais'd him, an' gowpens o' gowd They gather'd for him, an' right freely bestow'd; Then swith to his ain mither's dwallin' he's gaun Wi' the twa-thousan' cheque they laid in his haun. "He stood at my knee, an' he there laid it doon 'Oh, dinna ye min' o' yer Davie's hauf-croon! The first that he wrocht for? noo, see what is there; I tauld ye that it was the erles o' mair.' "Noo, tak' the bit siller intil yer ain haun, It's precious to me, ye may weel unnerstaun; It's no a' the siller in kintra an' toun Wad tempt me to pairt wi' my Davie's hauf-croon." Noo grannie sleeps soun' in the caul' bed o' death; On dear Davie's bosom she drew her last breath. Again he's on travel; may God be his guide; Bless a' his sair labours, protect an' provide! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...KISS GRANDMOTHERS GOOD NIGHT by ANDREW HUDGINS KICKING THE LEAVES by DONALD HALL THE BOOK OF SCAPEGOATS by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM THE GREAT GRANDPARENTS by TED KOOSER A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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