Willie and Helen

By Hew Ainslie

1792-1878


'WHAREFORE sou'd ye talk o' love,
         Unless it be to pain us?
Wharefore sou'd ye talk o' love
         Whan ye say the sea maun twain us?'

'It 's no because my love is light,
         Nor for your angry deddy;
It 's a' to buy ye pearlins bright,
         An' to busk ye like a leddy.'

'O Willy, I can caird an' spin,
         Se ne'er can want for cleedin';
An' gin I hae my Willy's heart,
         I hae a' the pearls I'm heedin'.

'Will it be time to praise this cheek
         Whan years an' tears has blench'd it?
Will it be time to talk o' love
         Whan cauld an' care has quench'd it?'

He's laid ae han' about her waist--
         The ither 's held to heaven;
An' his luik was like the luik o' man
         Wha's heart in twa is riven.

DayPoems Poem No. 571
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/571.html">Willie and Helen by Hew Ainslie</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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