Living

A Spinning-Wheel Ditty

by Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later) c. 13th–18th century

Translated by Eleanor Hull (1913) · From The Poem-Book of the Gael (1913)

Living

FIRST GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
I crossed the wood as the day was dawning;
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

SECOND GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
No doubt John O'Connell had had good warning!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

FIRST GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
Oh! John may go hang, it's not me he will catch!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

SECOND GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
You mannerless girl, he'll be more than your match!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

FIRST GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
Come, come now, leave off, or get me my own man!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

SECOND GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
Well, what do you think of Thomas O'Madigan?
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

FIRST GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
I hail him, and claim him, may we never be parted!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

SECOND GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
Go east or go west, may you still be true-hearted!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

THIRD GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
Go east and go west, and find me my love, too!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

FOURTH GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
There's Donall O'Flaherty, but I doubt will he take you!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

FIFTH GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
The man is too good, he'll be courting elsewhere!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

THIRD GIRL.

Mallo lero, and eambo nero,
There's no tree in the wood, but its equal is there!
Mallo lero, and eambo nero.

MLA

Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later). “A Spinning-Wheel Ditty.” Translated by Eleanor Hull. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-irish-gaelic/79/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later). “A Spinning-Wheel Ditty.” Translated by Eleanor Hull. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-irish-gaelic/79/.

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