There was an auld fisher, he sat by the wa’, An’ luikit oot ower the sea; The bairnies war playin, he smil’t on them a’, But the tear stude in his e’e. An’ it’s–oh to win awa, awa! An’ it’s, oh to win awa Whaur the bairns come hame, an’ the wives they bide, An’ […]

“What gars ye sing,” said the herd-laddie, “What gars ye sing sae lood?” “To tice them oot o’ the yerd, laddie, The worms for my daily food.” An’ aye he sang, an’ better he sang, An’ the worms creepit in an’ oot; An’ ane he tuik, an’ twa he loot gang, An’ still he carolled […]

Rose o’ my hert, Open yer leaves to the lampin mune; Into the curls lat her keek an’ dert, She’ll tak the colour but gie ye tune. Buik o’ my brain, Open yer faulds to the starry signs; Lat the e’en o’ the holy luik an’ strain, Lat them glimmer an’ score atween the lines. […]

“Death, whaur do ye bide, auld Death?” “I bide in ilka breath,” Quo’ Death; “No i’ the pyramids, No whaur the wormie rids ‘Neth coffin-lids; I bidena whaur life has been, An’ whaur’s nae mair to be dune.” “Death, whaur do ye bide, auld Death?” “Wi’ the leevin, to dee ‘at are laith,” Quo’ Death; […]

I’m a puir man I grant, But I am weel neiboured; And nane shall me daunt Though a puir man, I grant; For I shall not want– The Lord is my Shepherd! I’m a puir man I grant, But I am weel neiboured!

I dinna ken what’s come ower me! There’s a how whaur ance was a hert! I never luik oot afore me, An’ a cry winna gar me stert; There’s naething nae mair to come ower me, Blaw the win’ frae ony airt! For i’ yon kirkyard there’s a hillock, A hert whaur ance was a […]

Win’ that blaws the simmer plaid Ower the hie hill’s shoothers laid, Green wi’ gerse, an’ reid wi’ heather– Welcome wi’ yer sowl-like weather! Mony a win’ there has been sent Oot aneth the firmament– Ilka ane its story has; Ilka ane began an’ was; Ilka ane fell quaiet an’ mute Whan its angel wark […]

The water ran doon frae the heich hope-heid, Wi’ a Rin, burnie, rin; It wimpled, an’ waggled, an’ sang a screed O’ nonsense, an’ wadna blin Wi’ its Rin, burnie, rin. Frae the hert o’ the warl, wi’ a swirl an’ a sway, An’ a Rin, burnie, rin, That water lap clear frae the dark […]

The warl it’s dottit wi’ hames As thick as gowans o’ the green, Aye bonnier ilk ane nor the lave To him wha there opent his een. An’ mony an’ bonny’s the hame That lies neth auld Scotlan’s crests, Her hills an’ her mountains they are the sides O’ a muckle nest o’ nests. His […]

Doon cam the sunbeams, and up gaed the stour, As we spangt ower the road at ten mile the hoor, The horse wasna timmer, the cart wasna strae, And little cared we for the burn or the brae. We war young, and the hert in’s was strang i’ the loup, And deeper in yet was […]

“What maks ye sae canty, granny dear? Has some kin’ body been for ye to speir? Ye luik as smilin an’ fain an’ willin As gien ye had fun a bonny shillin!” “Ye think I luik canty, my bonny man, Sittin watchin the last o’ the sun sae gran’? Weel, an’ I’m thinkin ye’re no […]

Lord, I’m an auld man, An’ I’m deein! An’ do what I can I canna help bein Some feart at the thoucht! I’m no what I oucht! An’ thou art sae gran’, Me but an auld man! I haena gotten muckle Guid o’ the warld; Though siller a puckle Thegither I hae harlt, Noo I […]

What gars ye sing sae, birdie, As gien ye war lord o’ the lift? On breid ye’re an unco sma’ lairdie, But in hicht ye’ve a kingly gift! A’ ye hae to coont yersel rich in ‘S a wee mawn o’ glory-motes! The whilk to the throne ye’re aye hitchin Wi a lang tow o’ […]

Greitna, father, that I’m gauin, For fu’ well ye ken the gaet; I’ the winter, corn ye’re sawin, I’ the hairst again ye hae’t. I’m gauin hame to see my mither; She’ll be weel acquant or this! Sair we’ll muse at ane anither ‘Tween the auld word an’ new kiss! Love I’m doobtin may be […]

The bairns i’ their beds, worn oot wi’ nae wark, Are sleepin, nor ever an eelid winkin; The auld fowk lie still wi’ their een starin stark, An’ the mirk pang-fou o’ the things they are thinkin. Whan oot o’ ilk corner the bairnies they keek, Lauchin an’ daffin, airms loosin an’ linkin, The auld […]

The stars are steady abune; I’ the water they flichter and flee; But, steady aye, luikin doon They ken theirsels i’ the sea. A’ licht, and clear, and free, God, thou shinest abune; Yet luik, and see thysel in me, Aye on me luikin doon. * * * * * Throu the heather an’ how […]

Yes, there is one who makes us all lay down Our mushroom vanities, our speculations, Our well-set theories and calculations, Our workman’s jacket or our monarch’s crown! To him alike the country and the town, Barbaric hordes or civilized nations, Men of all names and ranks and occupations, Squire, parson, lawyer, Jones, or Smith, or […]