Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BACHELOR'S LAMENT, by WILLIAM D. LATTO


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BACHELOR'S LAMENT, by                    
First Line: When cauld winter ruffles the leaves frae the tree
Last Line: O wha can be happy when livin' alane!
Subject(s): Longing


WHEN cauld winter ruffles the leaves frae the tree,
I'm as weary a bodie as weary can be;
There's no ane to cheer me across the hearthstane,
A' the lee winter nicht I maun dozin' my lane.
Dozin' my lane, dozin' my lane,
A' the lee winter nicht I maun dozin' my lane.

The thrush lo'es to sing i' the white bloomin' thorn,
The hare lo'es to gambol amang the green corn,
But naething in nature can mak' my heart fain,
For I ne'er can be blythesome while livin' my lane.
Livin' my lane, livin' my lane,
O I ne'er can be blythesome while livin' my lane.

I've an auld dowie chaumer juist twal' feet by ten,
An oot-house, an in-house, a but-house, an' ben,
A weel-plenish'd mailin', an' gowd a' my ain,
But nocht can delight me when livin' my lane.
Livin' my lane, livin' my lane,
O nocht can delight me when livin' my lane.

Though some blame the lasses I care nae a flee,
I'll e'en tak' my fortune, whate'er it may be;
Guid folk are richt scarce, but I'll surely find ane,
To mak' me far blither than livin my lane;
Livin' my lane, livin' my lane,
To mak' me far blither than livin' my lane.

An' gin a sweet wifey should e'er be my hap,
I'll wake like a lav'rock an' sleep like a tap,
I'll sing like a lintie, an' never complain,
But forget a' the sorrows o' livin' my lane.
Livin' my lane, livin' my lane,
O wha can be happy when livin' alane!





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