The Poetical Works of Robert Burns/Willie's Wife
For other versions of this work, see Willie Wastle.
WILLIE'S WIFE.
TUNE—'TIBBIE FOWLER IN THE GLEN.'
Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed,The spot they ca'd it Linkumdoddie,Willie was a wabster guid,Cou'd stown a clue wi' onie bodie;He had a wife was dour and din,O Tinkler Madgie was her mither;Sic a wife as Willie had,I wad na gie a button for her.
She has an ee, 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 mou,Her nose and chin they threaten ither;Sic a wife, &c.
She's bow-hough'd, she's hein shinn'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, &c.
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 grunzie 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.