Social Commentaries

Mischievous Woman

by James Hogg 1770–1835

From The Poetical Works of the Ettrick Shepherd (Blackie, 1838–40)

Social Commentaries

Could this ill warld hae been contrived
To stand without mischievous woman.
How peacefu' bodies might hae lived,
Released frae a' the ills sae common ;
But since it is the waefu' case
That man maun hae this teazing crony,
Why sic a sweet bewitching face ?

O had she no been made sae bonny !

I might hae roam'd wi' cheerfu' mind,
Nae sin or sorrow to betide me,
As careless as the wandering wind,
As happy as the lamb beside me ;
I might hae screw 'd my tunefu' pegs,
And caroll'd mountain airs fu' gaily,
Had we but wantit a' the Megs,
Wi' glossy een sae dark an' wily.

I saw the danger, fear'd the dart,
The smile, the air, an' a' sae taking,
Yet open laid my wareless heart,
An' gat the wound that keeps me waking.
Mfy harp waves on the willow green,
O' wild witch-notes it has nae ony
Sin' e'er I saw that pawky quean,
Sae sweet, sae wicked, an' sae bonny !

MLA

Hogg, James. “Mischievous Woman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hogg/185/.

Chicago

Hogg, James. “Mischievous Woman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hogg/185/.

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