The Tod Poem by Violet Jacob

THERE'S a tod aye blinkin when the nicht comes doon,
Blinkin wi his lang een an keekin roond an roon',
Creepin by the fairmyaird when gloamin is to fa',
An syne there'll be a chicken or a deuk awa-
Aye, when the guidwife rises, there's a deuk awa!
There's a lass sits greetin ben the hoose at hame,
For when the guidwife's cankered she gie's her aye the blame,
An sair the lassie's sabbin an fast the tears fa',
For the guidwife's tint her bonnie hen an it's awa-
Aye, she's no sae easy dealt wi when her gear's awa!
There's a lad aye roamin when the day gets late,
A lang-leggit deevil wi his hand upon the gate,
An aye the guidwife cries to him to gar the toddie fa',
For she canna thole to let her deuks an hens awa-
Aye, the muckle bubbly-jock him sel is ca' d awa!
The laddie saw the tod gang by an killed him wi a stane
An the bonnie lass that grat sae sair she sabs nae mair her lane,
But the guidwife's no contentit yet, her like ye never saw!
Cries she - 'This time it is the lass, an she's awa!
Aye, yon laddie's waur nor ony tod, for Bell's awa!