Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BLIND BOY'S PRANKS, by WILLIAM THOM Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Men grew sae cauld, maids sae unkind Last Line: An' herds o' common men! Alternate Author Name(s): Inverary Poet, The Subject(s): Blindness; Visually Handicapped | ||||||||
MEN grew sae cauld, maids sae unkind, Love kentna whaur to stay: Wi' fient an arrow, bow, or string -- Wi' droopin' heart an' drizzled wing, He faught his lonely way. 'Is there nae mair in Garioch fair Ae spotless hame for me? Hae politics an' corn an' kye Ilk bosom stappit? Fie, O fie! I'll swithe me o'er the sea.' He launch'd a leaf o' jessamine, On whilk he daur'd to swim, An' pillow'd his head on a wee rosebud, Syne laithfu', lanely, Love 'gan scud Down Ury's waefu' stream. The birds sang bonnie as Love drew near, But dowie when he gaed by; Till lull'd wi' the sough o' monie a sang, He sleepit fu' soun' and sail'd alang 'Neath Heaven's gowden sky. 'Twas just whaur creeping Ury greets Its mountain cousin Don, There wander'd forth a weelfaur'd dame, Wha listless gazed on the bonnie stream, As it flirted an' play'd with a sunny beam That flicker'd its bosom upon. Love happit his head, I trow, that time The jessamine bark drew nigh, The lassie espied the wee rosebud, An' aye her heart gae thud for thud, An' quiet it wadna lie. 'O gin I but had yon wearie wee flower That floats on the Ury sae fair!' -- She lootit her hand for the silly rose-leaf, But little wist she o' the pawkie thief That was lurkin' an' laughin' there! Love glower'd when he saw her bonnie dark e'e, An' swore by Heaven's grace He ne'er had seen nor thought to see, Since e'er he left the Paphian lea, Sae lovely a dwallin'-place. Syne first of a' in her blythesome breast He built a bower, I ween; An' what did the waefu' devilick neist? But kindled a gleam like the rosy east, That sparkled frae baith her e'en. An' then beneath ilk high e'e-bree He placed a quiver there; His bow? What but her shinin' brow? An' O sic deadly strings he drew Frae out her silken hair! Guid be our guard! Sic deeds waur deen Roun' a' our countrie then; An' monie a hangin' lug was seen 'Mang farmers fat, an' lawyers lean, An' herds o' common men! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLIND POET by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) HE HAD A GOOD YEAR by MARVIN BELL THE BLIND SHEEP by RANDALL JARRELL THE BLIND by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE BLIND DOG OF VENICE by RON PADGETT BATTLE AFTER WAR by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON BOARDING: 5. THE DADAR SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND by REETIKA VAZIRANI THE MITHERLESS BAIRN by WILLIAM THOM |
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