Robert Burns: Poem On Pastoral Poetry :
Poem On Pastoral Poetry 1791 Type: Poem Hail, Poesie! thou Nymph reserv’d! In chase o’ thee, what crowds hae swerv’d Frae common sense, or sunk enerv’d ‘Mang heaps o’ clavers: And och! o’er aft thy joes hae starv’d, ‘Mid a’ thy favours! Say, Lassie, why, thy train amang, While loud the trump’s heroic clang, […]
Robert Burns: On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain: A Fragment
On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain A Fragment1791 Type: Poem Thou, Liberty, thou art my theme; Not such as idle poets dream, Who trick thee up a heathen goddess That a fantastic cap and rod has; Such stale conceits are poor and silly; I paint thee out, a Highland filly, A sturdy, stubborn, handsome dapple, […]
Robert Burns: The Posie :
The Posie 1791 Type: Poem O luve will venture in where it daur na weel be seen, O luve will venture in where wisdom ance has been; But I will doun yon river rove, amang the wood sae green, And a’ to pu’ a Posie to my ain dear May. The primrose I will […]
Robert Burns: What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man:
What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man 1791 Type: Poem What can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie, What can a young lassie do wi’ an auld man? Bad luck on the penny that tempted my minnie To sell her puir Jenny for siller an’ lan’. Bad luck on […]
Robert Burns: The Charms Of Lovely Davies:
The Charms Of Lovely Davies 1791 Type: Song Tune: Miss Muir. O how shall I, unskilfu’, try The poet’s occupation? The tunefu’ powers, in happy hours, That whisper inspiration; Even they maun dare an effort mair Than aught they ever gave us, Ere they rehearse, in equal verse, The charms o’ lovely Davies. Each […]
Robert Burns: Epigram On Miss Davies: On being asked why she had been formed so little, and Mrs. A-so big.
Epigram On Miss Davies On being asked why she had been formed so little, and Mrs. A-so big.1791 Type: Epigram Ask why God made the gem so small? And why so huge the granite?- Because God meant mankind should set That higher value on it. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from […]
Robert Burns: The Bonie Wee Thing:
The Bonie Wee Thing 1791 Type: Poem Chorus.-Bonie wee thing, cannie wee thing, Lovely wee thing, wert thou mine, I wad wear thee in my bosom, Lest my jewel it should tine. Wishfully I look and languish In that bonie face o’ thine, And my heart it stounds wi’ anguish, Lest my wee thing […]
Robert Burns: Craigieburn Wood:
Craigieburn Wood 1791 Type: Poem Sweet closes the ev’ning on Craigieburn Wood, And blythely awaukens the morrow; But the pride o’ the spring in the Craigieburn Wood Can yield to me nothing but sorrow. Chorus.-Beyond thee, dearie, beyond thee, dearie, And O to be lying beyond thee! O sweetly, soundly, weel may he sleep […]
Robert Burns: Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart: With The Lament On The Death Of the Earl Of Glencairn
Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart With The Lament On The Death Of the Earl Of Glencairn1791 Type: Poem Thou, who thy honour as thy God rever’st, Who, save thy mind’s reproach, nought earthly fear’st, To thee this votive offering I impart, The tearful tribute of a broken heart. The Friend thou valued’st, I, […]
Robert Burns: Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn:
Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn 1791 Type: Lament The wind blew hollow frae the hills, By fits the sun’s departing beam Look’d on the fading yellow woods, That wav’d o’er Lugar’s winding stream: Beneath a craigy steep, a Bard, Laden with years and meikle pain, In loud lament bewail’d his lord, Whom Death […]
Robert Burns: The Banks O’ Doon: Third Version
The Banks O’ Doon Third Version1791 Type: Poem Ye banks and braes o’ bonie Doon, How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae weary fu’ o’ care! Thou’ll break my heart, thou warbling bird, That wantons thro’ the flowering thorn: Thou minds me o’ departed […]
Robert Burns: The Banks O’ Doon: Second Version
The Banks O’ Doon Second Version1791 Type: Poem Ye flowery banks o’ bonie Doon, How can ye blume sae fair? How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae fu’ o care! Thou’ll break my heart, thou bonie bird, That sings upon the bough! Thou minds me o’ the happy days When my fause […]
Robert Burns: The Banks O’ Doon: First Version
The Banks O’ Doon First Version1791 Type: Poem Sweet are the banks-the banks o’ Doon, The spreading flowers are fair, And everything is blythe and glad, But I am fu’ o’ care. Thou’ll break my heart, thou bonie bird, That sings upon the bough; Thou minds me o’ the happy days When my fause Luve […]
Robert Burns: Out Over The Forth:
Out Over The Forth 1791 Type: Song Out over the Forth, I look to the North; But what is the north and its Highlands to me? The south nor the east gie ease to my breast, The far foreign land, or the wide rolling sea. But I look to the west when I gae […]
Robert Burns: There’ll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame:
There’ll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame 1791 Type: Poem By yon Castle wa’, at the close of the day, I heard a man sing, tho’ his head it was grey: And as he was singing, the tears doon came, – There’ll never be peace till Jamie comes hame. The Church is in […]
Robert Burns: Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring:
Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring 1791 Type: Lament Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree, And spreads her sheets o’ daisies white Out o’er the grassy lea; Now Phoebus cheers the crystal streams, And glads the azure skies; But nought can glad the weary wight […]
Robert Burns: Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo :
Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo 1790 Type: Elegy Tune: Life ne’er exulted in so rich a prize, As Burnet, lovely from her native skies; Nor envious death so triumph’d in a blow, As that which laid th’ accomplish’d Burnet low. Thy form and mind, sweet maid, can I forget? In richest […]
Robert Burns: On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child: Born in peculiar circumstances of family distress.
On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child Born in peculiar circumstances of family distress.1790 Type: Poem Sweet flow’ret, pledge o’ meikle love, And ward o’ mony a prayer, What heart o’ stane wad thou na move, Sae helpless, sweet, and fair? November hirples o’er the lea, Chil, on thy lovely form: And gane, alas! the […]
Robert Burns: Tam O’ Shanter: A Tale
Tam O’ Shanter A Tale1790 Type: Poem “Of Brownyis and of Bogillis full is this Buke.” Gawin Douglas. When chapman billies leave the street, And drouthy neibors, neibors, meet; As market days are wearing late, And folk begin to tak the gate, While we sit bousing at the nappy, An’ getting fou and unco happy, […]
Robert Burns: Verses On Captain Grose: Written on an Envelope, enclosing a Letter to Him.
Verses On Captain Grose Written on an Envelope, enclosing a Letter to Him.1790 Type: Poem Ken ye aught o’ Captain Grose?-Igo, and ago, If he’s amang his friends or foes?-Iram, coram, dago. Is he to Abra’m’s bosom gane?-Igo, and ago, Or haudin Sarah by the wame?-Iram, coram dago. Is he south or is he north?-Igo, […]
Robert Burns: The Epitaph:
The Epitaph 1790 Type: Epitaph Stop, passenger! my story’s brief, And truth I shall relate, man; I tell nae common tale o’ grief, For Matthew was a great man. If thou uncommon merit hast, Yet spurn’d at Fortune’s door, man; A look of pity hither cast, For Matthew was a poor man. If thou […]
Robert Burns: Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson: A Gentleman who held the Patent for his Honours immediately from Almighty God.
Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson A Gentleman who held the Patent for his Honours immediately from Almighty God.1790 Type: Elegy Should the poor be flattered?-Shakespeare. O Death! thou tyrant fell and bloody! The meikle devil wi’ a woodie Haurl thee hame to his black smiddie, O’er hurcheon hides, And like stock-fish come o’er his studdie […]
Robert Burns: Election Ballad: At the close of the contest for representing the Dumfries Burghs, 1790. Addressed to R. Graham, Esq. of Fintry.
Election Ballad At the close of the contest for representing the Dumfries Burghs, 1790. Addressed to R. Graham, Esq. of Fintry.1790 Type: Ballad Fintry, my stay in wordly strife, Friend o’ my muse, friend o’ my life, Are ye as idle’s I am? Come then, wi’ uncouth kintra fleg, O’er Pegasus I’ll fling my leg, […]
Robert Burns: Gudewife, Count The Lawin:
Gudewife, Count The Lawin 1790 Type: Poem Gane is the day, and mirk’s the night, But we’ll ne’er stray for faut o’ light; Gude ale and bratdy’s stars and moon, And blue-red wine’s the risin’ sun. Chorus.-Then gudewife, count the lawin, The lawin, the lawin, Then gudewife, count the lawin, And bring a coggie […]
Robert Burns: I Murder Hate:
I Murder Hate 1790 Type: Song I murder hate by flood or field, Tho’ glory’s name may screen us; In wars at home I’ll spend my blood- Life-giving wars of Venus. The deities that I adore Are social Peace and Plenty; I’m better pleas’d to make one more, Than be the death of twenty. […]
Robert Burns: The Gowden Locks Of Anna:
The Gowden Locks Of Anna 1790 Type: Poem Yestreen I had a pint o’ wine, A place where body saw na; Yestreen lay on this breast o’ mine The gowden locks of Anna. The hungry Jew in wilderness, Rejoicing o’er his manna, Was naething to my hinny bliss Upon the lips of Anna. Ye […]
Robert Burns: Elegy On Willie Nicol’s Mare:
Elegy On Willie Nicol’s Mare 1790 Type: Elegy Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare, As ever trod on airn; But now she’s floating down the Nith, And past the mouth o’ Cairn. Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare, An’ rode thro’ thick and thin; But now she’s floating down the Nith, And […]
Robert Burns: Lines To A Gentleman,: Who had sent the Poet a Newspaper, and offered to continue it free of Expense.
Lines To A Gentleman, Who had sent the Poet a Newspaper, and offered to continue it free of Expense.1790 Type: Poem Kind Sir, I’ve read your paper through, And faith, to me, ’twas really new! How guessed ye, Sir, what maist I wanted? This mony a day I’ve grain’d and gaunted, To ken what French […]
Robert Burns: Scots’ Prologue For Mr. Sutherland: On his Benefit-Night, at the Theatre, Dumfries.
Scots’ Prologue For Mr. Sutherland On his Benefit-Night, at the Theatre, Dumfries.1790 Type: Poem What needs this din about the town o’ Lon’on, How this new play an’ that new sang is comin? Why is outlandish stuff sae meikle courted? Does nonsense mend, like brandy, when imported? Is there nae poet, burning keen for fame, […]
Robert Burns: Sketch -New Year’s Day [1790]: To Mrs. Dunlop.
Sketch -New Year’s Day [1790] To Mrs. Dunlop.1790 Type: Sketch This day, Time winds th’ exhausted chain; To run the twelvemonth’s length again: I see, the old bald-pated fellow, With ardent eyes, complexion sallow, Adjust the unimpair’d machine, To wheel the equal, dull routine. The absent lover, minor heir, In vain assail him with their […]
Robert Burns: Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries: On New Year’s Day Evening, 1790.
Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries On New Year’s Day Evening, 1790.1789 Type: Poem No song nor dance I bring from yon great city, That queens it o’er our taste-the more’s the pity: Tho’ by the bye, abroad why will you roam? Good sense and taste are natives here at home: But not for […]
Robert Burns: Election Ballad For Westerha’:
Election Ballad For Westerha’ 1789 Type: Song Tune: Up and waur them a’, Willie. The Laddies by the banks o’ Nith Wad trust his Grace wi a’, Jamie; But he’ll sair them, as he sair’d the King- Turn tail and rin awa’, Jamie. Chorus.-Up and waur them a’, Jamie, Up and waur them a’; […]
Robert Burns: The Five Carlins: An Election Ballad
The Five Carlins An Election Ballad1789 Type: Song Tune: Chevy Chase. There was five Carlins in the South, They fell upon a scheme, To send a lad to London town, To bring them tidings hame. Nor only bring them tidings hame, But do their errands there, And aiblins gowd and honor baith Might be that […]
Robert Burns: Epistle To Dr. Blacklock: Ellisland, 21st Oct., 1789
Epistle To Dr. Blacklock Ellisland, 21st Oct., 17891789 Type: Epistle Wow, but your letter made me vauntie! And are ye hale, and weel and cantie? I ken’d it still, your wee bit jauntie Wad bring ye to: Lord send you aye as weel’s I want ye! And then ye’ll do. The ill-thief blaw the Heron […]
Robert Burns: To Mary In Heaven:
To Mary In Heaven 1789 Type: Poem Thou ling’ring star, with lessening ray, That lov’st to greet the early morn, Again thou usher’st in the day My Mary from my soul was torn. O Mary! dear departed shade! Where is thy place of blissful rest? See’st thou thy lover lowly laid? Hear’st thou the […]
Robert Burns: The Whistle -A Ballad:
The Whistle -A Ballad 1789 Type: Ballad I sing of a Whistle, a Whistle of worth, I sing of a Whistle, the pride of the North. Was brought to the court of our good Scottish King, And long with this Whistle all Scotland shall ring. Old Loda, still rueing the arm of Fingal, The […]
Robert Burns: My Heart’s In The Highlands:
My Heart’s In The Highlands 1789 Type: Song Tune: Failte na Miosg. Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. Chorus.-My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My […]
Robert Burns: The Captive Ribband:
The Captive Ribband 1789 Type: Song Tune: Robaidh dona gorach. Dear Myra, the captive ribband’s mine, ‘Twas all my faithful love could gain; And would you ask me to resign The sole reward that crowns my pain? Go, bid the hero who has run Thro’ fields of death to gather fame, Go, bid him […]
Robert Burns: A Waukrife Minnie:
A Waukrife Minnie 1789 Type: Poem Whare are you gaun, my bonie lass, Whare are you gaun, my hinnie? She answered me right saucilie, “An errand for my minnie.” O whare live ye, my bonie lass, O whare live ye, my hinnie? “By yon burnside, gin ye maun ken, In a wee house wi’ […]
Robert Burns: Awa’ Whigs, Awa’:
Awa’ Whigs, Awa’ 1789 Type: Poem Chorus.-Awa’ Whigs, awa’! Awa’ Whigs, awa’! Ye’re but a pack o’ traitor louns, Ye’ll do nae gude at a’. Our thrissles flourish’d fresh and fair, And bonie bloom’d our roses; But Whigs cam’ like a frost in June, An’ wither’d a’ our posies. Awa’ Whigs, &c. Our ancient […]