Willie Wastle Poem by Robert Burns

Willie Wastle

Rating: 3.0


Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed,
The spot they ca'd it Linkumdoddie.
Willie was a wabster guid
Could stown a clue wi onie body.
He had a wife was dour and din,
O, Tinkler Maidgie was her mither!
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

She has an e'e (she has but ane),
The cat has twa the very colour,
Five rusty teeth, forbye a stump,
A clapper-toungue wad deave a miller;
A whiskin beard about her mou,
Her nose and chin they threaten ither:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

She's bow-hough'd, she's hem-shin'd,
Ae limpin leg a hand-breed shorter;
She's twisted right, she's twisted left,
To balance fair in ilka quarter;
She has a hump upon her breast,
The twin o that upon her shouther:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

Auld baudrans by the ingle sits,
An wi her loof her face a-washin;
But Willie's wife is nae sae trig,
She dights her frunzie wi a hushion;
Her walie nieves like midden-creels,
Her face wad fyle the Logan Water:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Lohitn 16 January 2019

I don't like it.It sounds like a robot

1 1 Reply
Alan Mcgee 26 January 2010

Willie Wastle dwelt on Tweed, The spot they called it Linkumdoddie. Willie was a weaver good Could stown a clew with any body. packs a ball of thread'.) He had a wife was sullen and dun (dark complexioned) , O, Tinker (Gypsy) Maidgeie was her mother! Such a wife as Willie had, I would not give a button for her. She has an eye (she has but one) , The cat has two the very (same) colour, Five rusty teeth, besides a stump, A (bell) clapper-tongue would deafen a miller; A whisker beard about her mouth, Her nose and chin they threaten each other (nearly meet) : Such a wife as Willie had, I would not give a button for her. She is bow legged, she is hem-shin'd (also bow legged) , One limping leg a hand-breadth shorter; She is twisted right, she is twisted left, To balance fair in each quarter; She has a hump upon her breast, The twin of that upon her shoulder: Such a wife as Willie had, I would not give a button for her. Old cats by the fireplace sits, And with her paw her face a-washing; But Willie's wife in not so neat, She wipes her face with a footless stocking; Her ample fists like manure baskets, Her face would foul the Logan Water: Such a wife as Willie had, I would not give a button for her.

17 4 Reply
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Robert Burns

Robert Burns

Ayrshire / Scotland
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