from Odes: 14. Gin the Goodwife Stint

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The ploughland has gone to bent 
and the pasture to heather; 
gin the goodwife stint,
she’ll keep the house together.

Gin the goodwife stint 
and the bairns hunger 
the Duke can get his rent 
one year longer.

The Duke can get his rent
and we can get our ticket
twa pund emigrant 
on a C.P.R. packet.

© Ted Hughes