In Dispraise Of Poetry
When the King of Siam disliked a courtier,
he gave him a beautiful white elephant.
The miracle beast deserved such ritual
that to care for him properly meant ruin.
Yet to care for him improperly was worse.
It appears the gift could not be refused.
Anonymous submission.
poem by Jack Gilbert
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
L'Ancien Regime
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king,
Our king all kings above?
A young girl brought him love;
And he dowered her with shame,
With a sort of infamous fame,
And then with lonely years
Of penance and bitter tears --
Love is scarcely the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A statesman brought him planned
Justice for all the land;
And he in recompense got
Fierce struggle with brigue and plot,
Then a fall from lofty place
Into exile and disgrace --
Justice is never the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A writer brought him truth;
And first he imprisoned the youth,
And then he bestowed a free pyre
That the works might have plenty of fire,
And also to cure the pain
Of the headache called thought in the brain --
Truth is a very bad thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
The people brought their sure
Loyalty fervid and pure;
And he gave them bountiful spoil
Of taxes and hunger and toil,
Ignorance, brutish plight,
And wholesale slaughter in fight --
Loyalty's quite the worst thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A courtier brought to his feet
Servility graceful and sweet,
With an ever ready smile
And an ever supple guile;
And he got in reward the place
Of the statesman in disgrace --
Servility's always a thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A soldier brought him war,
La gloire, la victoire,
Ravage and carnage and groans,
For the pious Te Deum tones;
And he got in return for himself
Rank and honors and pelf --
War is a very fine thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A harlot brought him her flesh,
Her lusts, and the manifold mesh
Of her wiles intervolved with caprice;
And he gave her his realm to fleece,
To corrupt, to ruin, and gave
Himself for her toy and her slave
Harlotry's just the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king,
Our king who fears to die?
A priest brought him a lie,
The blackness of hell uprolled
In heaven's shining gold;
And he got as guerdon for that
A see and a cardinal's hat --
A lie is an excellent thing
To bring as a gift for our king.
Has any one yet a thing
For a gift to our lord the king?
The country gave him a tomb,
A magnificent sleeping-room;
And for this it obtained some rest,
Clear riddance of many a pest,
And a hope which it much enjoyed
That the throne would continue void --
A tomb is the very best thing
For a gift to our lord the king.
poem by James Thomson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Incubus
Who wants a nice white elephant,
Quite fit in wind and limb?
An ornament for any gent
Who can find use for him.
It won't pay us to kill the cuss;
But we can't afford his keep.
Who wants a nice white elephant?
We'll sell or lease him cheap.
Who wants a nice white elephant?
He'd make a lovely pet.
In rich, fat days we loved his way,
But in these times of fret
He's sort of grown too big for us
To fondle, groom and feed.
Who wants a fine white elephant
Of most exclusive breed?
Who wants a nice white elephant?
Of noble lineage he.
His breed is by State Jealousy
Out of Prosperity.
The rich years thro' he grew and grew,
And, ah, we loved him so.
But we can't afford his bed and board,
And we'd like to let him go.
Who'll buy a nice white elephant?
No decent bid refused.
We love him yet, altho' our pet
Has often been abused.
But come on, gents, walk up, walk up.
Our funds, alas, are scant.
Altho' we once were sold a pup
Who'll buy an elephant?
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Shine On
The greatest gift, the gift of life
The gift of love divine
God gave us all a special gift
He meant for it to shine
He meant for it to shine
The darkest night can be made light
By one bright word or smile
If wed put on our neighbors shoes
And choose to walk a mile
God gave us all our own free will
To choose the paths we take
No greater deed could eer be done
Than for anothers sake
The greatest gift, the gift of life
The gift of love divine
God gave us all a special gift
He meant for it to shine
He meant for it to shine
Shine on, shine on, for all to see
Gods light inside your soul
Shine on, shine on, let love flow free
Warm others in its glow
Shine on, shine on, shine on
So hide it not or it will fade
Shine on, shine on, shine on
Shine on, shine on, shine on
The greatest gift, the gift of life
The gift of love divine
God gave us all a special gift
He meant for it to shine
Shine on, shine on, shine on
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Our Metal Beast
Down the road we talk and laugh,
In the metal beast that gives us a ride,
Who knows if it is willing,
And who would really care.
Who ever thought we could ruin,
the life of that which gives it back,
the metal beast are everywhere,
Large ones that seem to carry,
Fifty or more on their tracks.
Or the small ones no more than five or six,
they can carry,
These metal beast,
we never question,
these metal beast that spew out death,
in a smokey and floating form.
Our metal beast,
that we learn to love,
Our metal beast are everywhere,
polished and primed,
or rusty and old,
Our metal beast that we hold onto,
that we love,
Or take for granted.
Our metal beast,
spew out death to our home.
poem by Rebecca Adams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Take Celebrity Out
I don’t care about your girlfriends
I don’t care about your affairs
I don’t care how many your wives
I don’t care you divorce with who
What I need is your entertainment
I don’t care about your castles and cars
I don’t care about your new styles
I don’t care if you famous everywhere
I don’t care you know many connection
What I need is your talent
I don’t care about your plastic surgery
I don’t care about your disturbing behavior
I don’t care you run from your rehabilitation
I don’t care you have a fight with who
What I need is your hard work
I don’t care about your orientation
I don’t care about your life philosophy
I don’t care you are a selfish and arrogant person
I don’t care you could move thousand people
What I need is your result
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Don't Care Anymore
Well you can tell ev'ryone I'm a down disgrace
So drag my name all over the place.
I don't care anymore. (I don't care)
You can tell ev'rybody 'bout the state I'm in
You won't catch me crying 'cos I just can't win.
I don't care anymore I don't care anymore
I don't care what you say
I don't play the same games you play.
'Cos I've been talking to the people that you call your friends
And it seems to me there's a means to and end.
They don't care anymore. (they don't care)
And as for me I can sit here and bide my time
I got nothing to lose if I speak my mind.
I don't care anymore I don't care no more
I don't care what you say
We never played by the same rules anyway.
I won't be there anymore
Get out of my way
Let me by
I got better things to do with my time
I don't care anymore I don't care anymore
I don't care anymore I don't care anymore
Well, I don't care now what you say (I don't care what you say)
'Cos ev'ry day (everyday)
I'm feeling fine with myself (I'm feeling fine with myself)
And I don't care now what you say (I don't care what you say)
Hey I'll do alright by myself (I'll be alright by myself)
I don't care (I don't care) anymore (anymore)
I don't care (I don't care) anymore (anymore)
I don't care (I don't care) anymore (anymore)
I don't care anymore
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
What what?
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
What what?
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
What what?
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
Do you care? Hell no!
What what?
'Cos I remember all the times I tried so hard
And you laughed in my face 'cos ya held all the cards.
I don't care anymore.
And I really ain't bothered what you think of me
'Cos all I want of you is just a let me be.
I don't care anymore
Did you hear? I don't care no more
I don't care what you say
I never did believe you much anyway.
We won't be there any more
So get out of our way.
Let us by
We got better things to do with our time
We don't care anymore
We don't care anymore
We don't care anymore
We don't care anymore
We don't care
We don't care
We don't care (anymore)
We don't care
song performed by by Kelis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Reflections (Care Enough)
Reflections of your love
Have come to wither
I thought I'd done my best to memorize
A picture fades of you and I together
I haven't come to terms
With how we said goodbye
Did you really care
Care for me at all
Did you really care
Did you care for me at all
A displaced little girl
Wept years in silence
And whispered wishes you'd materialize
She pressed on night and day
To keep on living
And tried to many ways
To keep her soul alive
Did you really care
Care enough for me
Did you really care
Did you care at all for me
If I'm not quite good enough
Or somehow undeserving of
A mother's love
You could have had the decency
To give me up
Before you gave me life
Don't you even care
Just the slightest bit for me
Cause I really need to feel you cared
Even once upon a time for me
I need to believe
song performed by by Mariah Carey from Glitter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rabiteen
He said that he would stay forever
forever wasn't very long
He said that he would take the high road
He thought that I was always wrong
Cause when he lied it meant he loved me
And when he lied it meant he cared
And when he lied it meant he loved me
Cause when he lied it meant that he was there
He said that he would go his own way
wrapped up my leg and down my spine
He said that he would be the fairest
Drenched in blood and turpentine
Cause when he lied it meant he loved me
And when he lied it meant he cared
And when he lied it meant he loved me
Cause when he lied it meant that he was there
I am never going back I don't care what he said
I wish he could see the hate in my head
I am never going back I don't care what he said
I wish he could see the hate in my head
I am never going back I don't care what he said
I wish he could see the hate in my head
I am never going back I don't care what he said
I wish he could see the hate
He said that he would tell no secrets
He said that he would never lie
He said that he would spring eternal
He said that we would never die
Cause when he lied it meant he loved me
And when he lied it meant he cared
And when he lied it meant he loved me
Cause when he cried it meant he cared
Cause when he lied it meant he loved me
And when he lied it meant he cared
And when he lied it meant he loved me
Cause when he lied it meant that
he was
he was
he was
He was there
song performed by by Jack Off Jill from Clear Hearts Grey Flowers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm Against It
I don't like politics
I don't like communists
I don't like games and fun
I don't like anyone
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like Jesus freaks
I don't like circus geeks
I don't like summer and spring
I don't like anything
I don't like sex and drugs
I don't like waterbugs
I don't care about poverty
All I care about is me
I don't like playing ping pong
I don't like the Viet Cong
I don't like Burger King
I don't like anything
And I'm against it.
song performed by by Ramones from Road To Ruin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Miracle
Many roads Ive travelled
And faces Ive seen
Each tells a story
Of what might have been
A missed golden moment
But life still remains
A search for the innocence
Somehow we lost on the way
And we all need a miracle, that I truly believe
Yes we all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle is you
Now the silence that follows
The last curtain call
I dont know anyone
Who has come through it all
You gave me direction
A part in your cast
No longer make believe
Now that I know it will last
Cos we all need a miracle, that I truly believe
Yes we all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle
And I believe my miracle
I believe my miracle
Yes I believe my miracle is you
song performed by by Rick Astley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Reflections
Reflections of your love
Have come to wither
I thought i'd done my best to memorize
A picture fades of you and i together
I haven't come to terms
With how we said goodbye
Did you really care
Care for me at all
Did you really care
Did you care for me at all
A displaced little girl
Wept years in silence
And whispered wishes you'd materialize
She pressed on night and day
To keep on living
And tried to many ways
To keep her soul alive
Did you really care
Care enough for me
Did you really care
Did you care at all for me
If i'm not quite good enough
Or somehow undeserving of
A mother's love
You could have had the decency
To give me up
Before you gave me life
Don't you even care
Just the slightest bit for me
Cause i really need to feel you cared
Even once upon a time for me
I need to believe, in my heart of hearts, you care for me
I need to understand
Why you left me there so helplessly
Don't you even care
Care at all for me
Reflections of your love
Have come to wither
I thought i'd done my best to memorize
song performed by by Mariah Carey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Poem (The lump of coal my parents teased)
The lump of coal my parents teased
I'd find in my Christmas stocking
turned out each year to be an orange,
for I was their sunshine.
Now I have one C. gave me,
a dense node of sleeping fire.
I keep it where I read and write.
"You're on chummy terms with dread,"
it reminds me. "You kiss ambivalence
on both cheeks. But if you close your
heart to me ever I'll wreathe you in flames
and convert you to energy."
I don't know what C. meant me to mind
by her gift, but the sun returns
unbidden. Books get read and written.
My mother comes to visit. My father's
dead. Love needs to be set alight
again and again, and in thanks
for tending it, will do its very
best not to consume us.
Anonymous submission.
poem by William Matthews
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Greatest Gift
When Christmas shopping is done,
wrapped gifts lie ‘neith a tree
sparkling bright with tinsel and light
for everyone to see.
Each gift has been selected
with thoughtfulness and care.
Toys and such will mean so much
like all the gifts we bear.
But let us keep within our heart
the much greater gift than these.
One from above, with God's great love
should bring us to our knees.
A gift of birth to all on Earth.
A gift that's far from small.
To everyone, He gave His Son…
The greatest gift of all.
poem by Ron Tranmer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Porterville
Its been an awful long time since I been home,
But you wont catch me goin back down there alone.
Things they said when I was young are quite enough to get me hung.
I dont care! I dont care!
They came and took my dad away to serve some time,
But it was me that paid the debt he left behind.
Folks said I was full of sin, because I was the next of kin.
I dont care! I dont care!
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo!
I dont care! I dont care!
Folks were out one night to put me up a fence,
And you can guess that Ive been runnin ever since.
Aint no one thats bout to help, and Ill keep on, I tell myself.
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
Aint no one thats bout to help,
And Ill keep on, I tell myself.
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
I dont care! I dont care!
song performed by by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why should I Care
Back in the day
When I was younger
I wasn't afraid
Of giving my heart to you
Now and again
I get sentimental
But I know it's just a phase
I'm going throuth
And every time I start to slip
I just remind myself
I need only think of it
I went throuth so much hell
You say ya wanna get things back
The way they used to be
Can you give me one good reason
Why should I darlin'
Why should i care
Why should I care for you
Why should i care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should i care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
Back in the day
I shoulda been wiser
But what can I say
I shoulda been onto you
But I was afraid
That you'd break my hert in two
Fate would it that you broke it anyway baby
And every time I close my eyes
I just remind myself
You told about a million lies
You put my heart throuth hell
And now you wanna get with me
Just for old times sake
Well I am not about to make that same mistake
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
You see a girlthat you gave all your love
I see a girln you took advantage of
You see a girl that you cannot forget
I see a man that I cannot forgive
Tell me why
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
Back in the day when I was young
I wasn't afraid to love
Back in the day
You where the one what was I thinking of
Back in the day
Shoulda been wiser
Shoulda been onto you
But I was afraid i make a mistake
No one knows
song performed by by Toni Braxton from Secrets
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Now You're Here
No, we don’t care where you come from
Now you’re here
No, we don’t care where you come from
Have a beer
We don’t care if you are black or white or
Of another hue
Now you’re here in Western Sydney
Now you’re part of Western Sydney
Now all over Western Sydney
We love you.
We are very proud of our diversity
Out on the streets it’s very clear to see
We don’t care if you’re a Christian or a Jew
Or a Bhuddist or Islamic or Hindu
‘Cos we don’t care where you come from
We don’t care where you come from
We don’t care where you come from
Now you’re here.
We’re very proud of long history
And we pay respect to Aborigines
And there’s just one thing I’ll tell ya
Yes, to you and other fellas
That we don’t care where you come from
Now you’re here.
No, we don’t care where you come from
Now you’re here
No, we don’t care where you come from
Have a beer
We don’t care if you are black or white or
Of another hue
Now you’re here in Western Sydney
Now you’re part of Western Sydney
Now all over Western Sydney
We love you.
We’re proud of where we are going
You can see
We’re using all our creativity
To build a better future
And we’ll get there soon we betcha
‘Cos we don’t care where you come from
Now you’re here.
No, we don’t care where you come from
Have a beer
We don’t care if you are black or white or
Another hue
Now you’re here in Western Sydney
Now you’re part of Western Sydney
Now all over Western Sydney
We love you.
Now you’re here in Western Sydney
Now you’re part of Western Sydney
Now all over Western Sydney
We love you.
poem by David Keig
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Why Should I Care?
Back in the day
When I was younger
I wasnt afraid
Of giving my heart to you
Now and again
I get sentimental
But I know its just a phase Im going through
And every time I start to slip
I just remind myself
I need only think of it
I went through so much hell
You say ya wanna get things back
The way they used to be
Can you give me one good reason
Why should I darlin
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
Back in the day
I shoulda been wiser
But what can I say
I shoulda been onto you
But I was afraid
That youd break my heart in two
Fate would have it that you broke it anyway baby
And every time I close my eyes
I just remind myself
You told about a million lies
You put my heart through hell
And now you wanna get with me
Just for old times sake
Well I am not about to make that same mistake
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
You see a girl that you gave all your love
I see a girl you took advantage of
You see a girl that you cannot forget
I see a man that I cannot forgive
Tell me why
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care for you
Why should I care
Why should I care
Back in the day when I was young
I wasnt afraid to love
Back in the day
You were the one what was I thinking of
Back in the day
Shoulda been wiser
Shoulda been onto you
But I was afraid I make a mistake
No one knows
song performed by by Toni Braxton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why She Never Did
The tears flow from her eyes as a question look arises upon her face
For she knows that I don't care at all
But why should I care why should I have to care
About someone that for the past few years has tried
To ruin my family and has done a fine job of it
I and my mom have become bad again
And I and my slept dad have grown so far apart
That I don't even know where to start
To be able to be as close to him as I once was
My family has fallen apart in so little time
That it will never be the same
I hate her
And will continue to hate her
Until I die
And I will have nothing to do with her grave
What so ever
The evil that she put in my life will never be forgotten
But the happiness that will soon follow will be cherished
How is a kid supposed to feel?
About some person that has made them has so much pain
In there life that it has changed them for the worse
In my eyes she died on the same day as her husband
Because from that day forward
The devil had captured her soul
And throw it away
So what is a kid supposed to think when someone
So mean and vises dies
Because apparently what I think and what I feel
Is wrong
You tell me
You tell me
Why in hell I should feel sad
That someone from hell
That had no feeling what so ever for anyone else
But her self
Why should I think her death was a bad thing?
When really it was a good thing
Why should I acted for them
When she can't see me anymore
And she never gave a rat's ass about any of us kids
So why should I act like I cared
That she died
Why should I
When she never did
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)
I'm a lonely rider
She's the sole survivor of this love affair
But she don't care
She's a real heart breaker
And I can't find a taker
No, that can compare
'Cause she's so rare
She never let me hurt for love
She gave me all she had
But that was only long enough
To go from good to bad
Oh, but love don't care whose heart it breaks
It don't care who gets blown away
If it all falls through as a bad mistake
Love don't care whose heart it breaks
I can still remember
Every time I see her, I go back in time
And lose my mind
Yeah, I'm a good pretender
I just can't believe her heart's no longer mine
It's so unkind
She never let me hurt for love
She gave me all she had
But that was only long enough
To go from good to bad
Oh, but love don't care whose heart it breaks
It don't care who gets blown away
If it all falls through as a bad mistake
Love don't care whose heart it breaks
No, love don't care whose heart it breaks
Love don't care
No, love don't care
Love don't care
No, love don't care
song performed by by Earl Thomas Conely, lyrics by Earl Thomas Conely & Randy Scruggs from Treadin' Water (29 April 1985)
Submitted by Jeffrey Kosloske
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The Bonny Hind
O May she comes, and may she goes,
Down by yon gardens green,
And there she spied a gallant squire
As squire had ever been.
And may she comes, and may she goes,
Down by yon hollin tree,
And there she spied a brisk young squire,
And a brisk young squire was he.
'Give me your green manteel, fair maid,
Give me your maidenhead;
Gif ye winna gie me your green manteel,
Gi me your maidenhead.'
He has taen her by the milk-white hand,
And softly laid her down,
And when he's lifted her up again
Given her a silver kaim.
'Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir,
Perhaps there may be nane;
But if you be a courtier,
You'll tell to me your name.'
'I am na courtier, fair maid,
But new come frae the sea;
I am nae courtier, fair maid,
But when I court'ith thee.
'They call me Jack when I'm abroad,
Sometimes they call me John;
But when I'm in my father's bower
Jock Randal is my name.'
'Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad,
Sae loud's I hear ye lee!
For I'm Lord Randal's yae daughter,
He has nae mair nor me.'
'Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny may,
Sae loud's I hear ye lee!
For I'm Lord Randal's yae yae son,
Just now come oer the sea.'
She's putten her hand down by her spare
And out she's taen a knife,
And she has putn't in her heart's bluid,
And taen away her life.
And he's taen up his bonny sister,
With the big tear in his een,
And he has buried his bonny sister
Amang the hollins green.
And syne he's hyed him oer the dale,
His father dear to see:
'Sing O and O for my bonny hind,
Beneath yon hollin tree!'
'What needs you care for your bonny hyn?
For it you needna care;
There's aught score hyns in yonder park,
And five score hyns to spare.
'Fourscore of them are siller-shod,
Of thae ye may get three;'
'But O and O for my bonny hyn,
Beneath yon hollin tree!'
'What needs you care for your bonny hyn?
For it you needna care;
Take you the best, gi me the warst,
Since plenty is to spare.'
'I care na for your hyns, my lord,
I care na for your fee;
But O and O for my bonny hyn,
Beneath the hollin tree!'
'O were ye at your sister's bower,
Your sister fair to see,
Ye'll think na mair o your bonny hyn
Beneath the hollin tree.'
poem by Andrew Lang
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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