Poets' Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 14

Poets' Corner

GIPSY BORN (Written for THE SUN) O, wlia’ saw ye i’ the streets, Babetle, When lie gaed i' the failin’ lichtf — O when / was gaein’ on ain o’ ma trips I saw a laddie fra ’ off o’ the ships Wi’ a broken forcheacl an’ blecdin lips; Him I saw i’ the streets the nicht. O, ufha 3 saw ye i’ the fiel’s, Babette, When ye gaed awa’ fra* the fechit — There waur waters agleam upon the flats J.ikc eyes a glint in’ thro’ narrow slats; A witch's, mebbe, or a beastie cat's I saw i’ the fiel’s the nicht. O, u ha’ dul ye meet i* the glen, Babette, Whaur the tread is covered xci’ grassf A lassie an’ lad, ere I’d gaed a mile; They waur courtin’ an’ hug gin’ an’ greetin’ the while — An* did- ye no wish at the Wishin* Stilet — Ay, I wished that I waur the lass. Can ye no sit soft by the blaze, Babettef Maun ye wander forth i’ the nicht? — I waur gipsy born, an’ reared i’ the brae, An’ a curran tunes will I hae ma way An’ gae loupin* forth at the close o’ day, An’ tread till the dawn gaes licht. BETTY KNELL. Wellington.