Classic Poem

I.

'Od but she 's a terrible wife! —
The Laird's guidwife, the Laird's guidwife;
She scrimps wi' care the meat an' drink:
For thrifty skill she wons them a'.
There 's never a trick but she can jink,
And by the Lord her tongue can ca'!
She steers aboot an' hauds them gaun,
Doon at the stables, up at the byre —
Throu' the gairden an' bye the mill:
Weel she hauds them gaun!

II.

'Od but she 's a terrible wife! —
The Laird's guidwife, the Laird's guidwife;
She orders here, an' orders there —
" Tak' this, tak' that, an' yon bring here;
Be cliver an' see ye do wi' care. "
And her commands they keep in fear.
She steers aboot, etc.

III.

'Od but she 's a terrible wife! —
The Laird's guidwife, the Laird's guidwife:
An' yet she queens the country side
When all in style she doth appear;
She never forgets his Lordship's pride —
When she 's in state the road maun clear!
She steers aboot, etc.

IV.

'Od but she 's a terrible wife! —
The Laird's guidwife, the Laird's guidwife:
Some say " she 's mean, " an' some say " no —
She spends an' hauds wi' balanced care. "
Some ithers they ban her vulgar show,
An' some say mair than folk should dare.
She steers aboot, etc.

V.

'Od but she 's a terrible wife! —
The Laird's guidwife, the Laird's guidwife:
But, lord! I think she 's no that ill;
She 's kind to them that show guid will —
A mitherly wife that minds her mill,
Wi' mensefu' sense an' pridefu' skill: —
She steers aboot an' hauds them gaun
Doon at the stables, up at the byre —
Throu' the gairden an' bye the mill —
Weel she hauds them gaun.