Explore "Songs of Angus: THE WATER-HEN" by Violet Jacob on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
As I gae'd doon by the twa mill dams i' the mornin' / The water-hen cam' oot like a passin' wraith / And her voice cam' through the reeds wi' a sound of warnin', / "Faith -- keep faith!" / "Aye, bird, tho' ye see but ane ye may cry on baith!"
As I gae'd doon the field when the dew was lyin', / My ain love stood whaur the road an' the mill-lade met, / An it seemed to me that the rowin' wheel was cryin', / "Forgi'e -- forget, / An turn, man, turn, for ye ken that ye lo'e her yet!"
As I gae'd doon the road 'twas a weary meetin', / For the ill words said yest're'en they were aye the same, / And my het he'rt drouned the wheel wi' its heavy beatin'. / "Lass, think shame, / It's no for me to speak, for it's you to blame!"
As I gae'd doon by the toon when the day was springin' / The Baltic brigs lay thick by the soundin' quay / And the riggin' hummed wi' the sang that the wind was singin', / "Free -- gang free, / For there's mony a load on shore may be skailed at sea!"
When I cam' hame wi' the thrang o' the years 'ahint me / There was naucht to see for the weeds and the lade in spate, / But the water-hen by the dams she seemed aye to mind me, / Cryin' "Hope -- wait!" / "Aye, bird, but my een grow dim, an' it's late -- late!"