Robert Burns: To John Kennedy, Dumfries House:
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House 1786 Type: Poem Now, Kennedy, if foot or horse E’er bring you in by Mauchlin corse, (Lord, man, there’s lasses there wad force A 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 […]
Robert Burns: The Inventory: In answer to a mandate by the Surveyor of the Taxes
The Inventory In answer to a mandate by the Surveyor of the Taxes1786 Type: Poem 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 […]
Robert Burns: Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous:
Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous 1786 Type: Address 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 dight May hae some pyles o’ caff in; So ne’er a fellow-creature slight For […]
Robert Burns: Here’s His Health In Water :
Here’s His Health In Water 1786 Type: Song 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 […]
Robert Burns: The Rantin’ Dog, The Daddie O’t:
The Rantin’ Dog, The Daddie O’t 1786 Type: Song 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 […]
Robert Burns: The Vision:
The Vision 1786 Type: Poem Duan First 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 betray Whare she has been. The thresher’s weary flingin-tree, The lee-lang day had tired me; And when the day had […]
Robert Burns: Epistle To James Smith:
Epistle To James Smith 1786 Type: Epistle 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-brief Owre human hearts; For ne’er a bosom yet was prief Against your arts. […]
Robert Burns: The Ordination : For sense they little owe to frugal Heav’n- To please the mob, they hide the little giv’n.
The Ordination For sense they little owe to frugal Heav’n- To please the mob, they hide the little giv’n.1786 Type: Poem 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; […]
Robert Burns: The Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer: To the Right Honourable and Honourable Scotch Representatives in the House of Commons.
The Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer To the Right Honourable and Honourable Scotch Representatives in the House of Commons.1786 Type: Poem 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 affairs In parliament, To […]
Robert Burns: The Twa Dogs: A Tale
The Twa Dogs A Tale1786 Type: Tale ‘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 […]
Robert Burns: 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.
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.1786 Type: Poem 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 day Thou could hae gaen […]
Robert Burns: Scotch Drink :
Scotch Drink 1785 Type: Poem 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 […]
Robert Burns: Address To The Deil:
Address To The Deil 1785 Type: Address O Prince! O chief of many throned Pow’rs That 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! […]
Robert Burns: The Cotter’s Saturday Night: Inscribed to R. Aiken, Esq., of Ayr.
The Cotter’s Saturday Night Inscribed to R. Aiken, Esq., of Ayr. 1785 Type: Poem 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 […]
Robert Burns: Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle:
Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle 1785 Type: Song 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’ […]
Robert Burns: For A’ That:
For A’ That 1785 Type: Song 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 best […]
Robert Burns: The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata:
The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata 1785 Type: Cantata 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 core O’ randie, gangrel bodies, In Poosie-Nansie’s held […]
Robert Burns: Adam Armour’s Prayer:
Adam Armour’s Prayer 1785 Type: Prayer Gude pity me, because I’m little! For though I am an elf o’ mettle, An’ can, like ony wabster’s shuttle, Jink there or here, Yet, scarce as lang’s a gude kail-whittle, I’m unco queer. An’ now Thou kens our waefu’ case; For Geordie’s jurr we’re in disgrace, Because […]
Robert Burns: Epitaph For James Smith:
Epitaph For James Smith 1785 Type: Epitaph Lament him, Mauchline husbands a’, He aften did assist ye; For had ye staid hale weeks awa, Your wives they ne’er had miss’d ye. Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye press To school in bands thegither, O tread ye lightly on his grass, – Perhaps he was […]
Robert Burns: Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper:
Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper 1785 Type: Epitaph Here lies Johnie Pigeon; What was his religion? Whae’er desires to ken, To some other warl’ Maun follow the carl, For here Johnie Pigeon had nane! Strong ale was ablution, Small beer persecution, A dram was memento mori; But a full-flowing bowl Was the saving his […]
Robert Burns: To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough:
To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough 1785 Type: Poem Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee, Wi’ murd’ring pattle! I’m truly sorry man’s […]
Robert Burns: Halloween: The following poem will, by many readers, be well enough understood; but for the sake of those who are unacquainted with the manners and traditions of the country where the scene is cast, notes are added to give some account of the principal charms and spells of that night, so big with prophecy to the peasantry in the west of Scotland. The passion of prying into futurity makes a striking part of the history of human nature in its rude state, in all ages and nations; and it may be some entertainment to a philosophic mind, if any such honour the author with a perusal, to see the remains of it among the more unenlightened in our own.-R.B.
Halloween The following poem will, by many readers, be well enough understood; but for the sake of those who are unacquainted with the manners and traditions of the country where the scene is cast, notes are added to give some account of the principal charms and spells of that night, so big with prophecy to […]
Robert Burns: Farewell To Ballochmyle:
Farewell To Ballochmyle 1785 Type: Song Tune: Miss Forbe’s farewell to Banff. The Catrine woods were yellow seen, The flowers decay’d on Catrine lee, Nae lav’rock sang on hillock green, But nature sicken’d on the e’e. Thro’ faded groves Maria sang, Hersel’ in beauty’s bloom the while; And aye the wild-wood ehoes rang, Fareweel […]
Robert Burns: Young Peggy Blooms:
Young Peggy Blooms 1785 Type: Song Tune: Loch Eroch-side Young Peggy blooms our boniest lass, Her blush is like the morning, The rosy dawn, the springing grass, With early gems adorning. Her eyes outshine the radiant beams That gild the passing shower, And glitter o’er the crystal streams, And cheer each fresh’ning flower. Her […]
Robert Burns: Second Epistle to Davie: A Brother Poet
Second Epistle to Davie A Brother Poet1785 Type: Epistle Auld Neibour, I’m three times doubly o’er your debtor, For your auld-farrant, frien’ly letter; Tho’ I maun say’t I doubt ye flatter, Ye speak sae fair; For my puir, silly, rhymin clatter Some less maun sair. Hale be your heart, hale be your fiddle, Lang may […]
Robert Burns: Masonic Song:
Masonic Song 1786 Type: Song Tune: Shawn-boy,” or “Over the water to Charlie. Ye sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie, To follow the noble vocation; Your thrifty old mother has scarce such another To sit in that honoured station. I’ve little to say, but only to pray, As praying’s the ton of your […]
Robert Burns: Lines On Meeting With Lord Daer:
Lines On Meeting With Lord Daer 1786 Type: Poem This wot ye all whom it concerns, I, Rhymer Robin, alias Burns, October twenty-third, A ne’er-to-be-forgotten day, Sae far I sprackl’d up the brae, I dinner’d wi’ a Lord. I’ve been at drucken writers’ feasts, Nay, been bitch-fou ‘mang godly priests- Wi’ rev’rence be it […]
Robert Burns: Address To The Toothache:
Address To The Toothache 1786 Type: Address My curse upon your venom’d stang, That shoots my tortur’d gums alang, An’ thro’ my lug gies mony a twang, Wi’ gnawing vengeance, Tearing my nerves wi’ bitter pang, Like racking engines! When fevers burn, or argues freezes, Rheumatics gnaw, or colics squeezes, Our neibor’s sympathy can […]
Robert Burns: Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr: “I composed this song as I conveyed my chest so far on my road to Greenock, where I was to embark in a few days for Jamaica. I meant it as my farewell dirge to my native land.”-R. B.
Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr “I composed this song as I conveyed my chest so far on my road to Greenock, where I was to embark in a few days for Jamaica. I meant it as my farewell dirge to my native land.”-R. B.1786 Type: Song Tune: Roslin Castle. The gloomy night is […]
Robert Burns: O Thou Dread Power: Lying at a reverend friend’s house one night, the author left the following verses in the room where he slept:-
O Thou Dread Power Lying at a reverend friend’s house one night, the author left the following verses in the room where he slept:-1786 Type: Prayer O Thou dread Power, who reign’st above, I know thou wilt me hear, When for this scene of peace and love, I make this prayer sincere. The hoary Sire-the […]
Robert Burns: Epigram On Rough Roads:
Epigram On Rough Roads 1786 Type: Epigram I’m now arrived-thanks to the gods!- Thro’ pathways rough and muddy, A certain sign that makin roads Is no this people’s study: Altho’ Im not wi’ Scripture cram’d, I’m sure the Bible says That heedless sinners shall be damn’d, Unless they mend their ways. ————- Home Robert […]
Robert Burns: Fragment Of Song:
Fragment Of Song 1786 Type: Song The night was still, and o’er the hill The moon shone on the castle wa’; The mavis sang, while dew-drops hang Around her on the castle wa’; Sae merrily they danced the ring Frae eenin’ till the cock did craw; And aye the o’erword o’ the spring Was […]
Robert Burns: The Brigs Of Ayr: Inscribed to John Ballantine, Esq., Ayr.
The Brigs Of Ayr Inscribed to John Ballantine, Esq., Ayr.1786 Type: Poem The simple Bard, rough at the rustic plough, Learning his tuneful trade from ev’ry bough; The chanting linnet, or the mellow thrush, Hailing the setting sun, sweet, in the green thorn bush; The soaring lark, the perching red-breast shrill, Or deep-ton’d plovers grey, […]
Robert Burns: Reply To A Trimming Epistle Received From A Tailor:
Reply To A Trimming Epistle Received From A Tailor 1786 Type: Reply What ails ye now, ye lousie bitch To thresh my back at sic a pitch? Losh, man! hae mercy wi’ your natch, Your bodkin’s bauld; I didna suffer half sae much Frae Daddie Auld. What tho’ at times, when I grow crouse, […]
Robert Burns: Willie Chalmers: Mr. Chalmers, a gentleman in Ayrshire, a particular friend of mine, asked me to write a poetic epistle to a young lady, his Dulcinea. I had seen her, but was scarcely acquainted with her, and wrote as follows:-
Willie Chalmers Mr. Chalmers, a gentleman in Ayrshire, a particular friend of mine, asked me to write a poetic epistle to a young lady, his Dulcinea. I had seen her, but was scarcely acquainted with her, and wrote as follows:-1786 Type: song Wi’ braw new branks in mickle pride, And eke a braw new brechan, […]
Robert Burns: Nature’s Law – A Poem: Humbly inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
Nature’s Law – A Poem Humbly inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.1786 Type: Poem Great Nature spoke: observant man obey’d-Pope. Let other heroes boast their scars, The marks of sturt and strife: And other poets sing of wars, The plagues of human life: Shame fa’ the fun, wi’ sword and gun To slap mankind like lumber! […]
Robert Burns: The Calf: To the Rev. James Steven, on his text, Malachi, ch. iv. vers. 2. “And ye shall go forth, and grow up, as Calves of the stall.”
The Calf To the Rev. James Steven, on his text, Malachi, ch. iv. vers. 2. “And ye shall go forth, and grow up, as Calves of the stall.”1786 Type: Poem Right, sir! your text I’ll prove it true, Tho’ heretics may laugh; For instance, there’s yourself just now, God knows, an unco calf. And should […]
Robert Burns: Thomson’s Edward and Eleanora.:
Thomson’s Edward and Eleanora. 1786 Type: Poem Farewell, old Scotia’s bleak domains, Far dearer than the torrid plains, Where rich ananas blow! Farewell, a mother’s blessing dear! A borther’s sigh! a sister’s tear! My Jean’s heart-rending throe! Farewell, my Bess! tho’ thou’rt bereft Of my paternal care. A faithful brother I have left, My […]
Robert Burns: The Farewell:
The Farewell 1786 Type: Poem The valiant, in himself, what can he suffer? Or what does he regard his single woes? But when, alas! he multiplies himself, To dearer serves, to the lov’d tender fair, To those whose bliss, whose beings hang upon him, To helpless children,-then, Oh then, he feels The point of […]
Robert Burns: Stanzas On Naething: Extempore Epistle to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
Stanzas On Naething Extempore Epistle to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.1786 Type: Poem To you, sir, this summons I’ve sent, Pray, whip till the pownie is freathing; But if you demand what I want, I honestly answer you-naething. Ne’er scorn a poor Poet like me, For idly just living and breathing, While people of every degree Are […]