The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht,
Wi' muckle faucht an' din—
"O, try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues,
Your faither's comin' in"—
They never heed a word I speak;
I try to gi'e a froon,
But aye I hap them up, an' cry,
"O, bairnies, cuddle doon."
Wee Jamie wi' the curly heid—
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."
But ere five minutes gang, wee Rab
Cries oot, frae 'neath the claes,
"Mither, mak' Tam gi'e owre 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 an' cry,
"O, bairnies, cuddle doon."
At length they hear their faither's fit,
An', as he steeks the door,
They turn their faces to the wa',
While Tam pretends to snore.
"Ha'e 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."
An' just afore we bed oorsel's,
We look at oor wee lambs;
Tam has his airm roun' wee Rab's neck,
An' Rab his airm roun' Tam's.
I lift wee Jamie up the bed,
An', as I straik each croon,
I whisper, till my heart fills up,
"O, bairnies, cuddle doon."
The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi' mirth that's dear to me;
But sune 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,
"O, bairnies, cuddle doon."
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cuddle doon
From guest Edie (contact)
I love this poem but there are several lines and words that I may not be understanding correctly. Is there someone I could contact for clarification?
(You might post the words here as a question or look up their meaning yourself via Google - MOD) -
I think this is a truly lovely poem. Many times with my own children and grandchldren have I been in a similar situation. And the 'bairnies' do 'cuddle doon'.
If I had the accent i would read this to the kids down the road. -
"May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their pows be bald,
"O, bairnies, cuddle doon." "
May he who wears the heavenly crown.
Forever whisper to young and old
"Oh children, snuggle down"
What a delightful poem and a wonderful ending. -
This really is a lovely poem.The children pretending to be alseep for the Father is so true 'who hasn't done this? the threat og getting into trouble from Dad was just too high a price to pay. Poor Mother - worrying about her bairns - the sentiments are wonderful.
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Cuddle Doon
From guest Norma Thomson (contact)
A wonderful poem from Anderson here, depicts the need for the mother to have the bairns asleep before faither comes home....lots of feeling...the mother thinking of her bairnies' future as they grow old. The sentiments in this poem still apply even 100 years later.
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