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George MacDonald - The Laverock
Work rating: Low

The Man says:

Laverock i` the lift,
Hae ye nae sang-thrift,
`At ye scatter `t sae heigh, and lat it a` drift?
Wasterfu laverock!

Dinna ye ken
`At ye hing ower men
Wha haena a sang or a penny to spen?
Hertless laverock!

But up there you,
I` the bow o` the blue,
Haud skirlin on as gien a` war new!
Toom-heidit laverock!

Haith, ye`re ower blythe!
I see a great scythe
Swing whaur yer nestie lies, doon i` the lythe,
Liltin laverock!

Eh, sic a soun!
Birdie, come doun,
Ye`re fey to sing sic a merry tune!
Gowkit laverock!

Come to yer nest;
Yer wife`s sair prest,
She`s clean worn oot wi` duin her best!
Rovin laverock!

Winna ye haud?
Ye`re surely mad!
Is there naebody there to gie ye a dad,
Menseless laverock?

Come doon and conform,
Pyke an honest worm,
And hap yer bairns frae the comin storm,
Spendrife laverock!

The Bird sings:

My nestie it lieth
I` the how o` a ban`;
The swing o` the scythe
`Ill miss `t by a span.

The lift it`s sae cheery!
The win` it`s sae free!
I hing ower my dearie,
And sing `cause I see.

My wifie`s wee breistie
Grows warm wi` my sang,
And ilk crumpled-up beastie
Kens no to think lang.

Up here the sun sings, but
He only shines there!
Ye haena nae wings, but
Come up on a prayer.

The man sings:

Ye wee daurin cratur,
Ye rant and ye sing
Like an oye o` auld Natur
Ta`en hame by the king!

Ye wee feathert priestie,
Yer bells i` yer thro`t,
Yer altar yer breistie,
Yer mitre forgot—

Offerin and Aaron,
Ye burn hert and brain;
And dertin and daurin,
Flee back to yer ain!

Ye wee minor prophet,
It`s `maist my belief
`At I`m doon in Tophet,
And you abune grief!

Ye`ve deavt me and daudit
And ca`d me a fule:
I`m nearhan` persuaudit
To gang to your schule!

For, birdie, I`m thinkin
Ye ken mair nor me—
Gien ye haena been drinkin,
And sing as ye see.

Ye maun hae a sicht `at
Sees gay and far ben,
And a hert, for the micht o` `t,
Wad sair for nine men!

There`s somebody`s been til
Roun saft to ye wha
Said birdies are seen til,
And e`en whan they fa`!
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