The Poetry Corner

Love Is Like A Dizziness

By James Hogg

I lately lived in quiet case, An' ne'er wish'd to marry, O! But when I saw my Peggy's face, I felt a sad quandary, O! Though wild as ony Athol deer, She has trepann'd me fairly, O! Her cherry cheeks an' een sae clear Torment me late an' early O! O, love, love, love! Love is like a dizziness; It winna let a poor body Gang about his biziness! To tell my feats this single week Wad mak a daft-like diary, O! I drave my cart out ow'r a dike, My horses in a miry, O! I wear my stockings white an' blue, My love's sae fierce an' fiery, O! I drill the land that I should pleugh, An' pleugh the drills entirely, O! O, love, love, love! etc. Ae morning, by the dawn o' day, I rase to theek the stable, O! I keust my coat, and plied away As fast as I was able, O! I wrought that morning out an' out, As I'd been redding fire, O! When I had done an look'd about, Gudefaith, it was the byre, O! O, love, love, love! etc. Her wily glance I'll ne'er forget, The dear, the lovely blinkin o't Has pierced me through an' through the heart, An' plagues me wi' the prinking o't. I tried to sing, I tried to pray, I tried to drown't wi' drinkin' o't, I tried with sport to drive't away, But ne'er can sleep for thinkin' o't. O, love, love, love! etc. Nae man can tell what pains I prove, Or how severe my pliskie, O! I swear I'm sairer drunk wi' love Than ever I was wi' whiskey, O! For love has raked me fore an' aft, I scarce can lift a leggie, O! I first grew dizzy, then gaed daft, An' soon I'll dee for Peggy, O! O, love, love, love! Love is like a dizziness; It winna let a poor body Gang about his biziness!