Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, KATE DALRYMPLE, by WILLIAM WATT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KATE DALRYMPLE, by                    
First Line: In a wee cot-house far across the muir
Last Line: He's wedded to and bedded noo wi' kate dalrymple.
Subject(s): Man-woman Relationships; Male-female Relations


IN a wee cot-house far across the muir,
Where the peesweeps, plovers, and whaups cry dreary,
There lived an auld maid for mony lang years,
Wham ne'er a wooer did e'er ca' his dearie.
A lanely lass was Kate Dalrymple,
A thrifty quean was Kate Dalrymple;
Nae music, exceptin' the clear burnie's wimple,
Was heard round the dwellin' o' Kate Dalrymple.

Her face had a smack o' the gruesome and grim,
Whilk did frae the fash o' a' wooers defend her;
Her lang Roman nose nearly met wi' her chin,
That brang folk in min' o' the auld witch o' Endor.
A weagle in her walk had Kate Dalrymple,
A sneevil in her talk had Kate Dalrymple;
And mony cornelian and cairngorm pimple
Did bleeze on the dun face o' Kate Dalrymple.

She span tarry woo' the hale winter through,
For Kate ne'er was lazy, but eident and thrifty;
She wrocht 'mang the peats, coil'd the hay, shore the corn,
And supported hersel' by her ain shift aye.
But ne'er a lover cam' to Kate Dalrymple,
For beauty and tocher wanted Kate Dalrymple;
Unheeded was she by baith gentle and simple,
A blank in the warld seemed puir Kate Dalrymple.

But mony are the ups and downs in life, --
Aft the dice-box o' fate's jumbled a' tapsalteerie;
Sae Kate fell heiress to a friend's hale estate,
And nae langer for lovers had she cause to weary.
The Squire cam' a-wooing o' Kate Dalrymple,
The priest scrapin', booin', fan' out Kate Dalrymple;
And on ilk wooer's face was seen love's smiling dimple,
And noo she's nae mair Kate -- but Miss Dalrymple.

Her auld cuttystool, that she used at her wheel,
Is flung-by for the saft gilded sofa sae gaudy;
And noo she's array'd in her silks and brocade,
And can rank noo for ruffs and muffs wi' only lady.
Still an unco fash to Kate Dalrymple,
Was dressing and party clash to Kate Dalrymple;
She thocht a half-marrow, bred in line mair simple,
Wad be a far fitter match for Kate Dalrymple.

She aftentimes thocht, when she dwelt by hersel',
She could wed Willie Speedystool the sarkin weaver;
And now to the wabster she the secret did tell,
And for love or for int'rest, Will did kindly receive her.
He flang by his heddles for Kate Dalrymple,
He burnt a' his treddles doun for Kate Dalrymple;
Though his right e'e doth skellie, and his lang leg doth limp ill,
He's wedded to and bedded noo wi' Kate Dalrymple.





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