Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Home: I. About ChildrenCuddle Doon
Alexander Anderson (1845–1909)T
Wi’ muckle faught an’ din;
“Oh try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues,
Your faither ’s comin’ in.”
They never heed a word I speak;
I try to gie a froon,
But aye I hap them up an’ cry,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.”
He aye sleeps next the wa’—
Bangs up an’ cries, “I want a piece;”
The rascal starts them a’.
I rin an’ fetch them pieces, drinks,
They stop awee the soun’,
Then draw the blankets up an’ cry,
“Noo, weanies, cuddle doon.”
Cries out, frae ’neath the claes,
“Mither, mak’ Tam gie ower at ance,
He ’s kittlin’ wi’ his taes.”
The mischief ’s in that Tam for tricks,
He ’d bother half the toon;
But aye I hap them up and cry,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.”
An’, as he steeks the door,
They turn their faces to the wa’,
While Tam pretends to snore.
“Hae a’ the weans been gude?” he asks,
As he pits aff his shoon;
“The bairnies, John, are in their beds,
An’ lang since cuddled doon.”
We look at our wee lambs;
Tam has his airm roun’ wee Rab’s neck,
And Rab his airm round Tam’s.
I lift wee Jamie up the bed,
An’ as I straik each croon,
I whisper, till my heart fills up,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.”
Wi’ mirth that ’s dear to me;
But soon the big warl’s cark an’ care
Will quaten doon their glee.
Yet, come what will to ilka ane,
May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their pows be bald,
“Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon.”