Comin Thro’ the Rye by Robert Burns

“Comin Thro’ the Rye” by Robert Burns never ceases to remind me of Catcher in the Rye. In fact, I never thought about the poem much before I read that book. Funny how that happens sometimes.

Enjoy this poetry Saturday.

O, Jenny’s a’ weet, poor body,
Jenny’s seldom dry:
She draigl’t a’ her petticoatie,
Comin thro’ the rye!

Comin thro’ the rye, poor body,
Comin thro’ the rye,
She draigl’t a’ her petticoatie,
Comin thro’ the rye!

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the glen,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need the warl’ ken?

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the grain;
Gin a body kiss a body,
The thing’s a body’s ain.

More books by and about Robert Burns:

• Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
• Burns: Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets)
• The Bard: Robert Burns, A Biography