Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | I. Admiration | | The Irish Spinning-Wheel | | Alfred Perceval Graves (1846–1931) |
| | | SHOW me a sight, | |
| Bates for delight | |
| An ould Irish wheel wid a young Irish girl at it. | |
| Oh no! | |
| Nothing you ’ll show | 5 |
| Aquals her sittin’ an’ takin’ a whirl at it. | |
| |
| Look at her there— | |
| Night in her hair, | |
| The blue ray of day from her eye laughin’ out on us! | |
| Faix, an’ a foot, | 10 |
| Perfect of cut, | |
| Peepin’ to put an end to all doubt in us. | |
| |
| That there ’s a sight | |
| Bates for delight | |
| An ould Irish wheel wid a young Irish girl at it— | 15 |
| Oh no! | |
| Nothin’ you ’ll show | |
| Aquals her sittin’ an’ takin’ a twirl at it. | |
| |
| See! the lamb’s wool | |
| Turns coarse an’ dull | 20 |
| By them soft, beautiful weeshy white hands of her. | |
| Down goes her heel, | |
| Roun’ runs the wheel, | |
| Purrin’ wid pleasure to take the commands of her. | |
| |
| Then show me a sight | 25 |
| Bates for delight | |
| An ould Irish wheel wid a young Irish girl at it. | |
| Oh no! | |
| Nothin’ you ’ll show | |
| Aquals her sittin’ an’ takin’ a twirl at it. | 30 |
| |
| Talk of Three Fates, | |
| Seated on sates, | |
| Spinnin’ and shearin’ away till they ’ve done for me! | |
| You may want three | |
| For your massacree, | 35 |
| But one Fate for me, boys—and only the one for me! | |
| |
| And isn’t that fate | |
| Pictured complate— | |
| An ould Irish wheel with a young Irish girl at it? | |
| Oh no! | 40 |
| Nothin’ you ’ll show | |
| Aquals her sittin’ and takin’ a twirl at it. | | | | |
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