Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MISS BETTY'S SINGING-BIRD, by JOHN WINSTANLEY Poet's Biography First Line: A pretty song, this coming spring Last Line: To girls, if good, this coming spring. Subject(s): Spring | ||||||||
A PRETTY song, this coming spring, A little chanting bird will sing; The bird you've heard old women say Comes often down the chimney-way, Then flies or hops the house around, Where tricks and pranks are to be found; The same which does all stories tell, When little girls do ill or well; When they're obstrep'rous or loquacious, Contrump'rous, boist'rous or audacious; With what is given 'em discontent, Or say things of their own invent; Fling off their caps and cloaks i' th' street, Beat little children that they meet; Call Aunt a sow or ugly witch, Cic'ly a hussy, slut or bh, Scratch, bite and pinch, or pull her quoif, And lead her a most dreadful life; Saunter an hour or two to school; And when they come there play the fool, The ramping hoyden or Miss Bumkin, The girls they sit by ever thumping; Call masters bastard or such name, And ev'ry little miss defame; When Aunt can scarce on them prevail To wear a gown not rattle-tail, Yet never want a daggled tail; When they have got a knack of crying, Their stays a-lacing or hair tying; Go oft to bed with weeping eyes, Yet sigh and slobber when they rise; When raisins, sugar-plums nor figs Will bribe them not to pull off wigs; For which, their bawling and their yelping, They surely get full many a skelping, Are locked in vault, or hole o' th' stairs, To sigh, and fret, and melt in tears, To bawl and roar, and not let out Till many a tear is dropped about, And after to their mistress sent For further flogging punishment; Which chastisements, if proving vain, They never more must go again To Lecoudre or Delamain, But carried be, from city far, To Jerrico or Mullingar. These, and perhaps a bolder thing, This little prating bird will sing Of naughty girls this coming spring. But, if they're modest, mild and witty And do things innocent and pretty; Observing always what they're bid, Never deserving to be chid, Discreet and good, they will be then By ladies loved, admired by men; Indulged in ev'ry harmless way, And suffered now and then to play; Have all the finest, nicest clothes, Rich ribbons, laces, stockings, shoes, Gold snuffbox, watch and diamond pendant, And cross with jewels at the end on't; Oft coach abroad, to take the air At park and strand, when weather's fair; Go now and then on holidays To concerts, puppet-shows and plays; Be always fine, most nicely dressed, In what's most curious, rich and best. All these this pretty bird will sing; All these and more will surely bring To girls, if good, this coming spring. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPRING LEMONADE by TONY HOAGLAND A SPRING SONG by LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN SPRING'S RETURN by GEORGE LAWRENCE ANDREWS ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SPRING FLOODS by MAURICE BARING SPRING IN WINTER by CHARLOTTE FISKE BATES SPRING ON THE PRAIRIE by HERBERT BATES THE FARMER'S BOY: SPRING by ROBERT BLOOMFIELD EPIGRAM ON THE FIRST OF APRIL by JOHN WINSTANLEY FANNY'S REMOVAL IN 1714 by JOHN WINSTANLEY TO THE REVD. MR. - ON HIS DRINKING SEA WATER by JOHN WINSTANLEY |
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