Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OOR WEE KATE, by JAMES NICHOLSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OOR WEE KATE, by                    
First Line: Was there ever sic a lassie kent, as oor wee kate?
Last Line: I wish I saw the wisdom teeth o' oor wee kate.
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


WAS there ever sic a lassie kent, as oor Wee Kate?
There's no a wean in a' the toun like oor Wee Kate;
Baith in an' oot, at kirk an' schule, she rins at sic a rate,
A pair o' shoon jist last a month wi' oor Wee Kate.

I wish she'd been a callan, she's sic a steerin' quean --
For ribbons, dolls, an' a' sic gear, she doesna' care a preen,
But taps an' bools, girs, ba's, an' bats, she plays wi' ear' an' late;
I'll hae to get a pair o' breeks for oor Wee Kate.

Na, what d'ye think? the ither day, as sure as ony thing --
I saw her fleein' dragons, wi' maist a mile o' string;
Yer jumpin' rapes, and peveralls, she flings oot o' her gate,
But nane can fire a towgun like oor Wee Kate.

They tell me on the meetin' nicht she's waur than ony fule,
She dings her bloomer oot o' shape an' mak'st jist like a shule;
The chairman glooms an' shakes his heid, an' scarce can keep
I won'er he can thole sic deils as oor Wee Kate. [his seat;

But see her on a gala-nicht, she's aye sas neat an' clean --
Wi' cheeks like ony roses, an' bonnie glancin' een --
An' then to hear her sing a sang, it's jist a perfect treat,
For ne'er a lintie sings sae sweet as oor Wee Kate.

An' yet there's no' a kinder wean in a' the toun, I'm sure;
That day wee brither Johnny dee'd, she grat her wee heart sair;
In beggar weans an' helpless folk she taks a queer conceit --
They're sure to get the bits o' piece frae oor Wee Kate.

Gaun to the kirk the ither day she sees a duddie wean
Wi' cauld bare feet an' bruckit face sit sabbin' on a stane;
She slipt the penny in his haun' I gaed her for the "plate:"
The kirks wad fa' if folk were a' like oor Wee Kate.

For a' she's sic a steer-about, sae fu' o' mirth an' fun,
She taks the lead in ilka class, an' mony a prize she's won --
This gars me think there's maybe mair than mischief in her pate,
I wish I saw the wisdom teeth o' oor Wee Kate.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net