Song—Sic a Wife as Willie had
Willie wastle dwalt on Tweed,
The spot they caÂ’d it Linkumdoddie;
Willie was a wabster gude,
Could stown a clue wiÂ’ ony 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 eÂ’e, she has but ane,
The cat has twa the very colour;
Five rusty teeth, forbye a stump,
A clapper tongue wad deave a miller:
A whiskin beard about her mouÂ’,
Her nose and chin they threaten ither;
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wadna gie a button for her!
SheÂ’s bow-houghÂ’d, sheÂ’s hein-shinÂ’d,
Ae limpin leg a hand-breed shorter;
SheÂ’s twisted right, sheÂ’s twisted left,
To balance fair in ilka quarter:
She has a lump upon her breast,
The twin oÂ’ that upon her shouther;
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wadna gie a button for her!
Auld baudrons by the ingle sits,
AnÂ’ wiÂ’ her loof her face a-washin;
But WillieÂ’s wife is nae sae trig,
She dights her grunzie wiÂ’ a hushion;
Her walie nieves like midden-creels,
Her face wad fyle the Logan Water;
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wadna gie a button for her!
Poems by Robert Burns
