My Mary

Who lives where Beggars rarely speed?
And leads a humdrum life indeed
As none beside herself would lead
     My Mary

Who lives where noises never cease?
And what wi' hogs and ducks and geese
Can never have a minutes peace
    My Mary

Who nearly battl'd to her chin
Bangs down the yard thro thick and thin?
Nor picks a road nor cares a pin
    My Mary

Who (save in sundad bib and tuck)
Goes daily (waddling like a duck)
Oer head and ears in grease and muck
    My Mary

Unus'd to pattins or to clogs
Who takes the swill to serve the hogs?
And steals the milk for cats and dogs
    My Mary

Who frost and Snow as hard as nails
Stands out o' doors and never fails
To wash up things and scour the pails
    My Mary

Who bussles night and day in short
At all catch jobs of every sort
And gains her mistress' favor for't
    My Mary

And who is oft repaid wi praise?
In doing what her mistress says
And yielding her wimmy ways
   my mary, etc...

by John Clare







-John Clare