A Brave Lass

by Paul Malgrati

She was bonnie aaright, yon Cathy lass 
Afore she worked on the coal-bing.
But the stoor turned her hair yella 
An chafft awa at her fair skin. 
Her da’s gaun ill – it’s a sair sicht!
Her bairns wull beg withoot her,
Yet syne her coupon’s blichtit
The quine’s nae got mony takers. 

Fowks say that Paris hures
Wi their cheek-loads o fantoush lure,
Hide their vices aneath pooder. 
Here, fur Cathy, it’s true anaw,
She didnae mean it, the pair brave sowl,
Tae hid her virtues aneath the coal.