Living

The Gudewife

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From The Old Soldier's Story (1915)

Living

My gudewife--she that is tae be--
O she sall seeme sang-sweete tae me
As her ain croon tuned wi' the chiel's
Or spinnin'-wheel's.
An' faire she'll be, an' saft, an' light,
An' muslin-bright
As her spick apron, jimpy laced
The-round her waiste.--
Yet aye as rosy sall she bloome
Intil the roome
(The where alike baith bake an' dine)
As a full-fine
Ripe rose, lang rinset wi' the raine,
Sun-kist againe,--
Sall seate me at her table-spread,
White as her bread.--
Where I, sae kissen her for grace,
Sall see her face
Smudged, yet aye sweeter, for the bit
O' floure on it,
Whiles, witless, she sall sip wi' me
Luve's tapmaist-bubblin' ecstasy.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “The Gudewife.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/489/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “The Gudewife.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/489/.

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