Wha'll Mow Me Now
Wha'll Mow Me Now - meaning Summary
Unglamorous Consequences of Desire
Burns presents a speaker—an unwed woman—pregnant after a soldier’s visit and facing community scorn. The poem records her voice of complaint and bitterness: she laments lost youth and reputation, criticizes the man who refuses responsibility, and exposes the double standard that allows other women or the soldier himself to escape blame. Its tone mixes anger, earthy humour, and moral outrage, making a pointed comment on sexual hypocrisy and the social costs borne mainly by women.
Read Complete AnalysesO Wha'll mow me now, my jo, An' wha'll mow me now: A sodger wi' his bandileers Has bang'd my belly fu'. O' I hae tint my rosy cheek, Likewise my waste sae sma'; O wae gae by the sodger lown, The sodger did it a'. Now I maun thole the scornfu' sneer O' mony a' saucy quine; When, curse upon her godly face! Her cunt's as merry's mine. Our dame hauds up her wanton tail As due as she gaes lie; An' yet misca's a young thing, The trade if she but try. Our dame can lae her ain gudeman, An' mow for glutton greed; An' yet misca's a poor thing That's mown' for its bread. Alake! sae sweet a tree as love, Sic bitter fruit should bear! Alake, that e'er a merry arse, Should draw a sa'tty tear. But deevil damn the lousy loun, Denies the bairn he got! Or lea's the merry arse he loe'd To wear a ragged coat! O Wha'll mow me now, my jo, An' wha'll mow me now: A sodger wi' his bandileers Has bang'd my belly fu'.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.