Auld Daddy Darkness

Auld Daddy Darkness creeps frae his hole,

Black as a blackamoor, blin' as a mole:

Stir the fire till it lowes, let the bairnie sit,

Auld Daddy Darkness is no wantit yit.

See him in the corners hidin' frae the licht,

See him at the window gloomin' at the nicht;

Turn up the gas licht, close the shutters a',

An' Auld Daddy Darkness will flee far awa'.

Awa' to hide the birdie within its cosy nest,

Awa' to lap the wee flooers on their mither's breast,

Awa' to loosen Gaffer Toil frae his daily ca',

For Auld Daddy Darkness is kindly to a'.

He comes when we're weary to wean's frae oor waes,

He comes when the bairnies are gettin' aff their claes;

To cover them sae cosy, an' bring bonnie dreams,

So Auld Daddy Darkness is better than he seems.

Steek yer een, my wee tot, ye'll see Daddy then;

He's in below the bed claes, to cuddle ye he's fain;

Noo nestle in his bosie, sleep and dream yer fill,

Till Wee Davie Daylicht comes keekin' owre the hill.

—James Ferguson.