I CANNA, winna cloak the fact -- Tho' sairly to my shame it's spoken -- On Sunday gane -- immodest act -- Wi' Cupid I'd a lively yokin'. To kirk I gaed in high resolve To weld my fancy wi' the sermon; Lat naething else my thochts involve, Nor hear, nor see, but Dr. Hermon. But Dauvit's hymn was jimply read, When @3bang@1 a dart gaed thro' my waistcoat -- A lass afore me turn'd her head, Her charmin' face I gat a glisk o't; It set my being a' alowe, An' a' day lang that face seem'd bent on's; Lat Doctor Hermon rant's he dow, I couldna catch a single sentence. His ilka lang-drawn metaphor Seem'd but word-etchin's o' her features, An' in the pulpit, smitsome fair, I saw @3her@1 face instead the preacher's; When praises well'd frae every heart, I heard but ae sweet voice afore me; An' when we kneel'd, as when we sate, Her roguish een were beamin' o'er me. By conscience thrice I felt rebuk'd, An' thrice I made renew'd endeavour; Towards the preacher firmly look'd, Determin'd on improved behaviour; But a' was faucht to nae avail, For lood as conscience lik'd to faut me, I couldna help my sinfu' sel', Wi' twa sic een aye lookin' at me. As hame I hied the birdies sang -- "A bonnie lassie! bonnie lassie!" I saw her cheeks the briers amang, I saw her in the very causey. When mither speir'd me for the text, Quo' I, "'twas in the books o' Moses." "The @3words?@1" quo' she. I answer'd next -- "Oh! -- sky-blue een an' cheeks o' roses!" Ah! roguie Love, yer fu' o' pranks, Nor wait for time an' place befittin'; Ye smit the sodger in the ranks, The merchant owre the ledger sittin'. But hear me, lad -- a victim flytes -- As ye regaird yer reputation, Employ the week as fancy dites, But cease your Sabbath descration! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: BARRETT BAYS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THINGS ARE WHAT THEY SEEM by MARIANNE MOORE TWO VOYAGERS by EMILY DICKINSON FIDELIS by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER ON AN ANNIVERSARY by JOHN MILLINGTON SYNGE ADLESTROP by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS |