O, you shall live in a great stone hall,
In a parkland fair and wide,
With many a servant to do your will
If you will be my bride.
I’d liefer bide wi’ my gaffer vans
An’ travel fra’ sea to sea;
What ‘ud I do wi’ sarvin’ folk
Who are used to t’ Quality!
“O, you shall own a satin-skinned horse,
That can leap the Devil’s Weir,
And twenty couple of musical hounds
If you will be my dear.”
I’d liefer ride my gay galloway
Or my brother’s shaggy roan;
Why sud I fash wi’ forty dogs
When I luve to ride alone!
“O, I will show you a golden room
With Cupids flying above,
A couch with cramoisy curtains hung
If you will be my love.”
I’d liefer lie on a brekkony bed
Wheer walls are rain-washed scars;
What do I want wi’ Cupids when
I’ve t’ Merry-go-round o’ t’ stars?
“O, I will give you beautiful bairns,
The bonniest ever seen,
The daintiest clothes to prank them in,
If you will be my queen.”
I’d liefer gie to t’ childer o’ mine
A gypsy for ther Dad,
What matter cleeas an’ folderols,
To a gypsy lass or lad!
“O, I will find for them able men
To teach them what is meet,
To ride, to shoot, and to speak strange tongues
If you will be my sweet.”
My childer shall learn fra’ t’ neet an’ t’ day,
Fra’ sorrow an’ viewly mirth,
Thine ‘ull be owners o’ girt steean halls,
Mine-Lords o’ t’ owd broon earth.
(Dorothy Una Ratcliffe)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fathers Poems, Horse Poems, Devils Poems, Quality PoemsBased on Keywords: neet, roan, fash, bonniest, daintiest, weir, vans, sud, childer, cupids, liefer