Explore "The Crambo-Clink" by David Rorie on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
/ Afore there was law to fleg us a', / An' schedule richt frae wrang, / The man o' the cave had got the crave / For the lichtsome lilt o' sang. / Wife an' strife an' the pride o' life, / Woman an' war an' drink; / He sang o' them a' at e'enin's fa' / By aid o' the crambo-clink.
When the sharpest flint made the deepest dint, / An' the strongest worked his will, / He drew his tune frae the burnie's croon / An' the whistlin' win' o' the hill. / At the mou' o's cave to pleesure the lave, / He was singin' afore he could think, / An' the wife in bye hush'd the bairnie's cry / Wi' a swatch o' the crambo-clink.
Nae creetic was there wi' superior air / For the singer wha daur decry / When they saw the sheen o' the makar's een, / An' his han' on his axe forbye? / But the nicht grew auld an' he never devaul'd / While ane by ane they would slink, / Awa' at a rin to their beds o' skin / Frae the soun' o' the crambo-clink.