Living

Saint Distaffs day, or the morrow after Twelth day.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Living

PArtly worke and partly play
Ye must on S. Distaffs day:
From the Plough soone free your teame;
Then come home and fother them.
If the Maides a spinning goe,
Burne the flax, and fire the tow:
Scorch their plackets, but beware
That ye singe no maiden-haire.
Bring in pailes of water then,
Let the Maides bewash the men.
Give S. Distaffe all the right,
Then bid Christmas sport good-night.
And next morrow, every one
To his owne vocation.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “Saint Distaffs day, or the morrow after Twelth day.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/1035/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “Saint Distaffs day, or the morrow after Twelth day.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/1035/.

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