Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | VIII. Wedded Love | | My Ain Wife | | Alexander Laing (1787–1857) |
| | | I WADNA gi’e my ain wife | |
| For ony wife I see; | |
| I wadna gi’e my ain wife | |
| For ony wife I see; | |
| A bonnier yet I ’ve never seen, | 5 |
| A better canna be— | |
| I wadna gi’e my ain wife | |
| For ony wife I see! | |
| |
| O couthie is my ingle-cheek, | |
| An’ cheerie is my Jean; | 10 |
| I never see her angry look, | |
| Nor hear her word on ane. | |
| She ’s gude wi’ a’ the neebours roun’ | |
| An’ aye gude wi’ me— | |
| I wadna gi’e my ain wife | 15 |
| For ony wife I see. | |
| |
| An’ O her looks sae kindlie, | |
| They melt my heart outright, | |
| When o’er the baby at her breast | |
| She hangs wi’ fond delight; | 20 |
| She looks intil its bonnie face, | |
| An’ syne looks to me— | |
| I wadna gi’e my ain wife | |
| For ony wife I see. | | | | |
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