Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WOO'D AND MARRIED AND A' (1), by ALEXANDER ROSS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WOO'D AND MARRIED AND A' (1), by             Poem Explanation        
First Line: The bride cam' out o' the byre
Last Line: If I could get but a man!'
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


THE bride cam' out o' the byre,
And O, as she dighted her cheeks,
'Sirs, I'm to be married the-night,
And ha'e neither blankets nor sheets --
Ha'e neither blankets nor sheets,
Nor scarce a coverlet too;
The bride that has a' thing to borrow,
Has e'en right meikle ado!'

Wooed and married and a'!
Married and wooed and a'!
And was she na very weel aff
That was wooed and married and a'?

Out spake the bride's father
As he cam' in frae the pleugh,
'O haud your tongue, my dochter,
And ye'se get gear eneugh.
The stirk stands i' the tether,
And our braw bawsint yade
Will carry hame your corn: --
What wad ye be at, ye jade?'

Out spake the bride's mither:
'What, deil, needs a' this pride?
I hadna a plack in my pouch
That night I was a bride.
My gown was linsey-wolsey,
And ne'er a sark ava;
And ye ha'e ribbons and buskin's
Mae than ane or twa.'

Out spake the bride's brither
As he cam' in wi' the kye:
'Puir Willie wad ne'er ha'e ta'en ye
Had he kent ye as weel as I.
For ye're baith pround and saucy,
And no for a puir man's wife;
Gin I canna get a better
I'se ne'er tak' ane i' my life!'

Out spake the bride's sister
As she cam' in frae the byre;
'Oh, gin I were but married,
It's a' that I desire!
But we puir folk maun live,
And do the best we can;
I dinna ken what I should want
If I could get but a man!'





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