Recitativo When lyart leaves bestrow the yird,Or wavering like the bauckie-bird,Bedim cauld Boreas’ blast;When hailstanes drive wi’ bitter skyte,And infant frosts begin to bite,In hoary cranreuch drest;Ae night at e’en a merry coreO’ randie, gangrel bodies,In Poosie-Nansie’s held the splore,To drink their orra duddies;Wi’ quaffing an’ laughing,They ranted an’ they sang,Wi’ jumping an’ thumping,The vera […]

Inscribed to R. Aiken, Esq., of Ayr. Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;Nor Grandeur hear, with a disdainful smile,The short and simple annals of the Poor.Gray. My lov’d, my honour’d, much respected friend!No mercenary bard his homage pays;With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end,My dearest meed, a friend’s […]

Tune–“The bob O’ Dumblane.” O Merry hae I been teethin’ a heckle,An’ merry hae I been shapin’ a spoon;O merry hae I been cloutin’ a kettle,An’ kissin’ my Katie when a’ was done.O a’ the lang day I ca’ at my hammer,An’ a’ the lang day I whistle and sing;O a’ the lang night I […]

Song–for A’ That[1]Tune–“For a’ that.” Tho’ women’s minds, like winter winds,May shift, and turn, an’ a’ that,The noblest breast adores them maist–A consequence I draw that. Chorus For a’ that, an’ a’ that,And twice as meikle’s a’ that;The bonie lass that I loe bestShe’ll be my ain for a’ that. Great love I bear to […]

O Prince! O chief of many throned Pow’rsThat led th’ embattl’d Seraphim to war–Milton. O Thou! whatever title suit thee–Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or Clootie,Wha in yon cavern grim an’ sootie,Clos’d under hatches,Spairges about the brunstane cootie,To scaud poor wretches! Hear me, auld Hangie, for a wee,An’ let poor damned bodies be;I’m sure sma’ pleasure […]

Gie him strong drink until he wink,That’s sinking in despair;An’ liquor guid to fire his bluid,That’s prest wi’ grief and care:There let him bouse, an’ deep carouse,Wi’ bumpers flowing o’er,Till he forgets his loves or debts,An’ minds his griefs no more. (Solomon’s Proverbs, xxxi. 6, 7.) Let other poets raise a fracas‘Bout vines, an’ wines, […]

The Twa Dogs [1] ‘Twas in that place o’ Scotland’s isle,That bears the name o’ auld King Coil,Upon a bonie day in June,When wearin’ thro’ the afternoon,Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame,Forgather’d ance upon a time. The first I’ll name, they ca’d him Caesar,Was keepit for His Honor’s pleasure:His hair, his size, his […]

[The Auld Farmer’s New-year-morning Salutation to His Auld Mare, Maggie on giving her the accustomed ripp of corn to hansel in the New Year.] A Guid New-year I wish thee, Maggie!Hae, there’s a ripp to thy auld baggie:Tho’ thou’s howe-backit now, an’ knaggie,I’ve seen the dayThou could hae gaen like ony staggie,Out-owre the lay. Tho’ […]

Friendship, mysterious cement of the soul!Sweet’ner of Life, and solder of Society!I owe thee much–Blair. Dear Smith, the slee’st, pawkie thief,That e’er attempted stealth or rief!Ye surely hae some warlock-briefOwre human hearts;For ne’er a bosom yet was priefAgainst your arts. For me, I swear by sun an’ moon,An’ ev’ry star that blinks aboon,Ye’ve cost me […]

For sense they little owe to frugal Heav’n–To please the mob, they hide the little giv’n. Kilmarnock wabsters, fidge an’ claw,An’ pour your creeshie nations;An’ ye wha leather rax an’ draw,Of a’ denominations;Swith to the Ligh Kirk, ane an’ a’An’ there tak up your stations;Then aff to Begbie’s in a raw,An’ pour divine libationsFor joy […]

To the Right Honourable and Honourable ScotchRepresentatives in the House of Commons.[1] Dearest of distillation! last and best– –How art thou lost!– Parody on Milton. Ye Irish lords, ye knights an’ squires,Wha represent our brughs an’ shires,An’ doucely manage our affairsIn parliament,To you a simple poet’s pray’rsAre humbly sent. Alas! my roupit Muse is hearse!Your […]

Presented to the Author by a Lady. Thou flatt’ring mark of friendship kind,Still may thy pages call to mindThe dear, the beauteous donor;Tho’ sweetly female ev’ry part,Yet such a head, and more the heartDoes both the sexes honour:She show’d her taste refin’d and just,When she selected thee;Yet deviating, own I must,For sae approving me:But kind […]

Duan First [1] The sun had clos’d the winter day,The curless quat their roarin play,And hunger’d maukin taen her way,To kail-yards green,While faithless snaws ilk step betrayWhare she has been. The thresher’s weary flingin-tree,The lee-lang day had tired me;And when the day had clos’d his e’e,Far i’ the west,Ben i’ the spence, right pensivelie,I gaed […]

Tune–“The Job of Journey-work.” Altho’ my back be at the wa’,And tho’ he be the fautor;Altho’ my back be at the wa’,Yet, here’s his health in water.O wae gae by his wanton sides,Sae brawlie’s he could flatter;Till for his sake I’m slighted sair,And dree the kintra clatter:But tho’ my back be at the wa’,And tho’ […]

After 18th stanza of the text (at “His native land”):– With secret throes I marked that earth,That cottage, witness of my birth;And near I saw, bold issuing forthIn youthful pride,A Lindsay race of noble worth,Famed far and wide. Where, hid behind a spreading wood,An ancient Pict-built mansion stood,I spied, among an angel brood,A female pair;Sweet […]

Tune–“Whare’ll our guidman lie.” O wha my babie-clouts will buy?O wha will tent me when I cry?Wha will kiss me where I lie?The rantin’ dog, the daddie o’t. O wha will own he did the faut?O wha will buy the groanin maut?O wha will tell me how to ca’t?The rantin’ dog, the daddie o’t. When […]

My Son, these maxims make a rule,An’ lump them aye thegither;The Rigid Righteous is a fool,The Rigid Wise anither:The cleanest corn that ere was dightMay hae some pyles o’ caff in;So ne’er a fellow-creature slightFor random fits o’ daffin. (Solomon.–Eccles. ch. vii. verse 16.) O ye wha are sae guid yoursel’,Sae pious and sae holy,Ye’ve […]

Now, Kennedy, if foot or horseE’er bring you in by Mauchlin corse,(Lord, man, there’s lasses there wad forceA hermit’s fancy;An’ down the gate in faith they’re worse,An’ mair unchancy). But as I’m sayin, please step to Dow’s,An’ taste sic gear as Johnie brews,Till some bit callan bring me newsThat ye are there;An’ if we dinna […]

[The Inventory[1] In answer to a mandate by the Surveyor of the Taxes] Sir, as your mandate did request,I send you here a faithfu’ list,O’ gudes an’ gear, an’ a’ my graith,To which I’m clear to gi’e my aith. Imprimis, then, for carriage cattle,I hae four brutes o’ gallant mettle,As ever drew afore a pettle.My […]

Tune–“Jockey’s Grey Breeks.” Again rejoicing Nature seesHer robe assume its vernal hues:Her leafy locks wave in the breeze,All freshly steep’d in morning dews. Chorus.–And maun I still on Menie doat,And bear the scorn that’s in her e’e?For it’s jet, jet black, an’ it’s like a hawk,An’ it winna let a body be. In vain to […]