Annie She's Dowie

Annie she's dowie, and Willie he's wae:
What can be the matter wi' siccan a twae,
For Annie she's fair as the first o' the day,
And Willie he's honest and stalwart and gay?

Oh, the tane has a daddy is poor and is proud,
And the tither a minnie that cleiks at the goud '.
They lo'ed are anither, and said their say,
But the daddy and minnie hae partit the twae!

George MacDonald

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister best known for his fairy tales and fantasy novels. He was a pioneer in the fantasy genre, influencing notable writers such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. His major works include "Phantastes" and "Lilith," as well as numerous poems and other literary works. MacDonald's writings are characterized by their imaginative qualities and deep spiritual insight.

George MacDonald

Truth, Not Form!

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

Born Of Water

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

Sonnets III.

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

A Vision Of St. Eligius

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Nannie Braw

I like ye weel upo Sundays, Nannie,
    I' yer goon and yer ribbons and a';
But I like ye better on Mondays, Nannie,
    Whan ye're no sae buskit and braw.

For whan we're sittin sae douce, Nannie,
    Wi' the lave o' the worshippin fowk,
That aneth the haly hoose, Nannie,
    Ye micht hear a moudiwarp howk,

It will come into my heid, Nannie,
    O' yer braws ye are thinkin a wee;
No alane o' the Bible-seed, Nannie,
    Nor the minister nor me!

Syne hame athort the green, Nannie,
    Ye gang wi' a toss o' yer chin;
And there walks a shadow atween 's, Nannie,
    A dark ane though it be thin!

But noo, whan I see ye gang, Nannie,
    Eident at what's to be dune,
Liltin a haiveless sang, Nannie,
    I wud kiss yer verr...

George MacDonald

Granny Canty.

"What maks ye sae canty, granny dear?
Has some kin' body been for ye to speir?
Ye luik as smilin an' fain an' willin
As gien ye had fun a bonny shillin!"

"Ye think I luik canty, my bonny man,
Sittin watchin the last o' the sun sae gran'?
Weel, an' I'm thinkin ye're no that wrang,
For 'deed i' my hert there's a wordless sang!

"Ken ye the meanin o' canty, my dow?
It's bein i' the humour o' singin, I trow!
An' though nae sang ever crosses my lips
I'm aye like to sing whan anither sun dips.

"For the time, wee laddie, the time grows lang
Sin' I saw the man wha's sicht was my sang--
Yer gran'father, that's--an' the sun's last glim
Says aye to me, 'Lass, ye're a mile nearer him!

"For he's hame afore me, an' lang's the road!
He fain...

George MacDonald

Ower The Hedge

I.

"Bonny lassie, rosy lassie,
    Ken ye what is care?
Had ye ever a thought, lassie,
    Made yer hertie sair?"

Johnnie said it, Johnnie seekin
    Sicht o' Mally's face,
Keekin i' the hedge o' holly
    For a thinner place.

"Na," said Mally, pawky smilin,
    "Nought o' care ken I;
Gien I meet the gruesome carline,
    I s' hand weel ootby!"

"Lang be licht o' hert, Mally,
    As o' fut and ban'!
Lang be ready wi' sic answer
    To ony speirin man!"

"Ay, the men 'll aye be speirin!
    Troth, it's naething new!
There's yersel wi' queston, queston--
    And there's mair like you!"

"Deed ye wadna mock me, Mally,
    Wi' yer lauchin ee,
Gien ye saw the thing aye muvin
    I' the hert o'...

George MacDonald

Gaein And Comin

Whan Andrew frae Strathbogie gaed
    The lift was lowerin dreary,
The sun he wadna raise his heid,
    The win' blew laich and eerie.
In's pooch he had a plack or twa--
    I vow he hadna mony,
Yet Andrew like a linty sang,
    For Lizzie was sae bonny!
        O Lizzie, Lizzie, bonny lassie!
        Bonny, saucy hizzy!
        What richt had ye to luik at me
        And drive me daft and dizzy?

Whan Andrew to Strathbogie cam
    The sun was shinin rarely;
He rade a horse that pranced and sprang--
    I vow he sat him fairly!
And he had gowd to spen' and spare,
    And a hert as true as ony;
But his luik was doon, his sigh was sair,
    For Lizzie was sae bonny!
        O Lizzie, Lizzie, bonny hizzy!
        Aih, the sunlicht we...

George MacDonald

Greitna, Father

Greitna, father, that I'm gauin,
    For fu' well ye ken the gaet;
I' the winter, corn ye're sawin,
    I' the hairst again ye hae't.

I'm gauin hame to see my mither;
    She'll be weel acquant or this!
Sair we'll muse at ane anither
    'Tween the auld word an' new kiss!

Love I'm doobtin may be scanty
    Roun ye efter I'm awa:
Yon kirkyard has happin plenty
    Close aside me, green an' braw!

An' abune there's room for mony;
    'Twasna made for ane or twa,
But was aye for a' an' ony
    Countin love the best ava.

There nane less ye'll be my father;
    Auld names we'll nor tyne nor spare!
A' my sonship I maun gather
    For the Son is king up there.

Greitna, father, that I'm gauin,
    For ye ken fu' we...

George MacDonald

Hame

The warl it's dottit wi' hames
    As thick as gowans o' the green,
Aye bonnier ilk ane nor the lave
    To him wha there opent his een.

An' mony an' bonny's the hame
    That lies neth auld Scotlan's crests,
Her hills an' her mountains they are the sides
    O' a muckle nest o' nests.

His lies i' the dip o' a muir
    Wi' a twa three elder trees,
A lanely cot wi' a sough o' win',
    An' a simmer bum o' bees;

An' mine in a bloomin strath,
    Wi' a river rowin by,
Wi' the green corn glintin i' the sun,
    An' a lowin o' the kye;

An' yours whaur the chimleys auld
    Stan up i' the gloamin pale
Wi' the line o' a gran' sierra drawn
    On the lift as sharp's wi' a nail.

But whether by ingle-neuk
    On a c...

George MacDonald