The Bonniest Bairn in a’ the Warl’
The bonniest bairn in a’ the warl’
Has skin like the drifted snaw,
An’ rosy wee cheeks sae saft an’ sleek—
There never was ither sic twa;
Its een are just bonnie wee wander’d stars,
Its leggies are plump like a farl,
An’ ilk ane maun see’t, an’ a’ maun declare’t
The cleverest bairn,
The daintiest bairn,
The rosiest, cosiest, cantiest bairn,
The dearest, queerest,
Rarest, fairest,
Bonniest bairn in a’ the warl’.
The bonniest bairn in a’ the warl’
Ye ken whaur the ferlie lives?
It’s doon in yon howe, it’s owre yon knowe—
In the laps o’ a thousand wives;
It’s up an’ ayont in yon castle brent,
The heir o’ the belted earl;
It’s sookin’ its thoomb in yon gipsy tent—
The cleverest bairn,
The daintiest bairn,
The rosiest, cosiest, cantiest bairn,
The dearest, queerest,
Rarest, fairest,
Bonniest bairn in a’ the warl’.
Robert Ford.