Robert Burns: Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage:
Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage 1788 Type: Poem Thou whom chance may hither lead, Be thou clad in russet weed, Be thou deckt in silken stole, Grave these maxims on thy soul. Life is but a day at most, Sprung from night, in darkness lost: Hope not sunshine every hour, Fear not clouds will […]
Robert Burns: I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain:
I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain 1788 Type: song I Hae a wife of my ain, I’ll partake wi’ naebody; I’ll take Cuckold frae nane, I’ll gie Cuckold to naebody. I hae a penny to spend, There-thanks to naebody! I hae naething to lend, I’ll borrow frae naebody. I am naebody’s lord, I’ll […]
Robert Burns: Of A’ The Airts The Wind Can Blaw:
Of A’ The Airts The Wind Can Blaw 1788 Type: Song Tune: Miss Admiral Gordon’s Strathspey. Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw, I dearly like the west, For there the bonie lassie lives, The lassie I lo’e best: There’s wild-woods grow, and rivers row, And mony a hill between: But day and […]
Robert Burns: Epistle To Hugh Parker:
Epistle To Hugh Parker 1788 Type: Epistle In this strange land, this uncouth clime, A land unknown to prose or rhyme; Where words ne’er cross’t the Muse’s heckles, Nor limpit in poetic shackles: A land that Prose did never view it, Except when drunk he stacher’t thro’ it; Here, ambush’d by the chimla cheek, […]
Robert Burns: The Chevalier’s Lament:
The Chevalier’s Lament 1788 Type: Song Tune: Captain O’Kean. The small birds rejoice in the green leaves returning, The murmuring streamlet winds clear thro’ the vale; The primroses blow in the dews of the morning, And wild scatter’d cowslips bedeck the green dale: But what can give pleasure, or what can seem fair, When […]
Robert Burns: Verses To Clarinda: Sent with a Pair of Wine-Glasses.
Verses To Clarinda Sent with a Pair of Wine-Glasses. 1788 Type: Poem Fair Empress of the Poet’s soul, And Queen of Poetesses; Clarinda, take this little boon, This humble pair of glasses: And fill them up with generous juice, As generous as your mind; And pledge them to the generous toast, “The whole of human […]
Robert Burns: The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa:
The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa 1788 Type: Poem O how can I be blythe and glad, Or how can I gang brisk and braw, When the bonie lad that I lo’e best Is o’er the hills and far awa! It’s no the frosty winter wind, It’s no the driving drift and snaw; But […]
Robert Burns: The Winter It Is Past:
The Winter It Is Past 1788 Type: Poem The winter it is past, and the summer comes at last And the small birds, they sing on ev’ry tree; Now ev’ry thing is glad, while I am very sad, Since my true love is parted from me. The rose upon the breer, by the waters […]
Robert Burns: To Daunton Me:
To Daunton Me 1788 Type: Poem The blude-red rose at Yule may blaw, The simmer lilies bloom in snaw, The frost may freeze the deepest sea; But an auld man shall never daunton me. Refrain.-To daunton me, to daunton me, And auld man shall never daunton me. To daunton me, and me sae young, […]
Robert Burns: Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa:
Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa 1788 Type: Poem Musing on the roaring ocean, Which divides my love and me; Wearying heav’n in warm devotion, For his weal where’er he be. Hope and Fear’s alternate billow Yielding late to Nature’s law, Whispering spirits round my pillow, Talk of him that’s far awa. Ye whom […]
Robert Burns: The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John:
The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John 1788 Type: Poem Her daddie forbad, her minnie forbad Forbidden she wadna be: She wadna trow’t the browst she brew’d, Wad taste sae bitterlie. Chorus.-The lang lad they ca’Jumpin John Beguil’d the bonie lassie, The lang lad they ca’Jumpin John Beguil’d the bonie lassie. A cow and a cauf, […]
Robert Burns: Duncan Davison :
Duncan Davison 1788 Type: Poem There was a lass, they ca’d her Meg, And she held o’er the moors to spin; There was a lad that follow’d her, They ca’d him Duncan Davison. The moor was dreigh, and Meg was skeigh, Her favour Duncan could na win; For wi’ the rock she wad him […]
Robert Burns: Hey, The Dusty Miller:
Hey, The Dusty Miller 1788 Type: Poem Hey, the dusty Miller, And his dusty coat, He will win a shilling, Or he spend a groat: Dusty was the coat, Dusty was the colour, Dusty was the kiss That I gat frae the Miller. Hey, the dusty Miller, And his dusty sack; Leeze me on […]
Robert Burns: How Long And Dreary Is The Night :
How Long And Dreary Is The Night 1788 Type: Poem How long and dreary is the night, When I am frae my dearie! I sleepless lie frae e’en to morn, Tho’ I were ne’er so weary: I sleepless lie frae e’en to morn, Tho’ I were ne’er sae weary! When I think on the […]
Robert Burns: Up In The Morning Early:
Up In The Morning Early 1788 Type: Poem Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west, The drift is driving sairly; Sae loud and shill’s I hear the blast- I’m sure it’s winter fairly. Chorus.-Up in the morning’s no for me, Up in the morning early; When a’ the hills are covered wi’ snaw, […]
Robert Burns: The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa:
The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa 1788 Type: Poem O how can I be blythe and glad, Or how can I gang brisk and braw, When the bonie lad that I lo’e best Is o’er the hills and far awa! It’s no the frosty winter wind, It’s no the driving drift and snaw; But […]
Robert Burns: The Winter It Is Past:
The Winter It Is Past 1788 Type: Poem The winter it is past, and the summer comes at last And the small birds, they sing on ev’ry tree; Now ev’ry thing is glad, while I am very sad, Since my true love is parted from me. The rose upon the breer, by the waters […]
Robert Burns: To Daunton Me:
To Daunton Me 1788 Type: Poem The blude-red rose at Yule may blaw, The simmer lilies bloom in snaw, The frost may freeze the deepest sea; But an auld man shall never daunton me. Refrain.-To daunton me, to daunton me, And auld man shall never daunton me. To daunton me, and me sae young, […]
Robert Burns: Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa:
Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa 1788 Type: Poem Musing on the roaring ocean, Which divides my love and me; Wearying heav’n in warm devotion, For his weal where’er he be. Hope and Fear’s alternate billow Yielding late to Nature’s law, Whispering spirits round my pillow, Talk of him that’s far awa. Ye whom […]
Robert Burns: The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John:
The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John 1788 Type: Poem Her daddie forbad, her minnie forbad Forbidden she wadna be: She wadna trow’t the browst she brew’d, Wad taste sae bitterlie. Chorus.-The lang lad they ca’Jumpin John Beguil’d the bonie lassie, The lang lad they ca’Jumpin John Beguil’d the bonie lassie. A cow and a cauf, […]
Robert Burns: Duncan Davison :
Duncan Davison 1788 Type: Poem There was a lass, they ca’d her Meg, And she held o’er the moors to spin; There was a lad that follow’d her, They ca’d him Duncan Davison. The moor was dreigh, and Meg was skeigh, Her favour Duncan could na win; For wi’ the rock she wad him […]
Robert Burns: Hey, The Dusty Miller:
Hey, The Dusty Miller 1788 Type: Poem Hey, the dusty Miller, And his dusty coat, He will win a shilling, Or he spend a groat: Dusty was the coat, Dusty was the colour, Dusty was the kiss That I gat frae the Miller. Hey, the dusty Miller, And his dusty sack; Leeze me on […]
Robert Burns: How Long And Dreary Is The Night :
How Long And Dreary Is The Night 1788 Type: Poem How long and dreary is the night, When I am frae my dearie! I sleepless lie frae e’en to morn, Tho’ I were ne’er so weary: I sleepless lie frae e’en to morn, Tho’ I were ne’er sae weary! When I think on the […]
Robert Burns: Up In The Morning Early:
Up In The Morning Early 1788 Type: Poem Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west, The drift is driving sairly; Sae loud and shill’s I hear the blast- I’m sure it’s winter fairly. Chorus.-Up in the morning’s no for me, Up in the morning early; When a’ the hills are covered wi’ snaw, […]
Robert Burns: Raving Winds Around Her Blowing: I composed these verses on Miss Isabella M’Leod of Raza, alluding to her feelings on the death of her sister, and the still more melancholy death of her sister’s husband, the late Earl of Loudoun, who shot himself out of sheer heart-break at some mortifications he suffered, owing to the deranged state of his finances.-R.B., 1971.
Raving Winds Around Her Blowing I composed these verses on Miss Isabella M’Leod of Raza, alluding to her feelings on the death of her sister, and the still more melancholy death of her sister’s husband, the late Earl of Loudoun, who shot himself out of sheer heart-break at some mortifications he suffered, owing to the […]
Robert Burns: My Hoggie:
My Hoggie 1788 Type: song What will I do gin my Hoggie die? My joy, my pride, my Hoggie! My only beast, I had nae mae, And vow but I was vogie! The lee-lang night we watch’d the fauld, Me and my faithfu’ doggie; We heard nocht but the roaring linn, Amang the braes […]
Robert Burns: Stay My Charmer:
Stay My Charmer 1788 Type: Song Tune: An gille dubh ciar-dhubh. Stay my charmer, can you leave me? Cruel, cruel to deceive me; Well you know how much you grieve me; Cruel charmer, can you go! Cruel charmer, can you go! By my love so ill-requited, By the faith you fondly plighted, By the […]
Robert Burns: M’Pherson’s Farewell:
M’Pherson’s Farewell 1788 Type: Song Tune: M’Pherson’s Rant. Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, The wretch’s destinie! M’Pherson’s time will not be long On yonder gallows-tree. Chorus.-Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gaed he; He play’d a spring, and danc’d it round, Below the gallows-tree. O, what is death but parting breath? On many […]
Robert Burns: To The Weavers Gin Ye Go:
To The Weavers Gin Ye Go 1788 Type: Poem My heart was ance as blithe and free As simmer days were lang; But a bonie, westlin weaver lad Has gart me change my sang. Chorus.-To the weaver’s gin ye go, fair maids, To the weaver’s gin ye go; I rede you right, gang ne’er […]
Robert Burns: I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet:
I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet 1788 Type: Poem Chorus.-I’m o’er young, I’m o’er young, I’m o’er young to marry yet; I’m o’er young, ‘twad be a sin To tak me frae my mammy yet. I am my mammny’s ae bairn, Wi’ unco folk I weary, sir; And lying in a man’s bed, I’m […]
Robert Burns: Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul:
Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul 1788 Type: Poem Clarinda, mistres of my soul, The measur’d time is run! The wretch beneath the dreary pole So marks his latest sun. To what dark cave of frozen night Shall poor Sylvander hie; Depriv’d of thee, his life and light, The sun of all his joy? We […]
Robert Burns: Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care:
Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care 1788 Type: Poem For thee is laughing Nature gay, For thee she pours the vernal day; For me in vain is Nature drest, While Joy’s a stranger to my breast. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland Poetry by subject Poems by […]
Robert Burns: Love In The Guise Of Friendship:
Love In The Guise Of Friendship 1788 Type: Poem Your friendship much can make me blest, O why that bliss destroy! Why urge the only, one request You know I will deny! Your thought, if Love must harbour there, Conceal it in that thought; Nor cause me from my bosom tear The very friend […]
Robert Burns: Sylvander To Clarinda: Extempore Reply to Verses addressed to the Author by a Lady, under the signature of “Clarinda” and entitled, On Burns saying he ‘had nothing else to do.’
Sylvander To Clarinda Extempore Reply to Verses addressed to the Author by a Lady, under the signature of “Clarinda” and entitled, On Burns saying he ‘had nothing else to do.’1787 Type: Poem When dear Clarinda, matchless fair, First struck Sylvander’s raptur’d view, He gaz’d, he listened to despair, Alas! ’twas all he dared to do. […]
Robert Burns: On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,: Late Lord President of the Court of Session.
On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston, Late Lord President of the Court of Session.1787 Type: Poem Lone on the bleaky hills the straying flocks Shun the fierce storms among the sheltering rocks; Down from the rivulets, red with dashing rains, The gathering floods burst o’er the distant plains; Beneath the blast the […]
Robert Burns: Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787:
Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787 1787 Type: Ode Afar the illustrious Exile roams, Whom kingdoms on this day should hail; An inmate in the casual shed, On transient pity’s bounty fed, Haunted by busy memory’s bitter tale! Beasts of the forest have their savage homes, But He, who should imperial purple wear, Owns […]
Robert Burns: The Young Highland Rover:
The Young Highland Rover 1787 Type: Song Tune: Morag. Loud blaw the frosty breezes, The snaws the mountains cover; Like winter on me seizes, Since my young Highland rover Far wanders nations over. Where’er he go, where’er he stray, May heaven be his warden; Return him safe to fair Strathspey, And bonie Castle-Gordon! The […]
Robert Burns: My Peggy’s Charms:
My Peggy’s Charms 1787 Type: Song Tune: Tha a’ chailleach ir mo dheigh. My Peggy’s face, my Peggy’s form, The frost of hermit Age might warm; My Peggy’s worth, my Peggy’s mind, Might charm the first of human kind. I love my Peggy’s angel air, Her face so truly heavenly fair, Her native grace, […]
Robert Burns: Braving Angry Winter’s Storms:
Braving Angry Winter’s Storms 1787 Type: Song Tune: Neil Gow’s Lament for Abercairny. Where, braving angry winter’s storms, The lofty Ochils rise, Far in their shade my Peggy’s charms First blest my wondering eyes; As one who by some savage stream A lonely gem surveys, Astonish’d, doubly marks it beam With art’s most polish’d […]
Robert Burns: The Banks Of The Devon:
The Banks Of The Devon 1787 Type: Song Tune: Bhanarach dhonn a’ chruidh. How pleasant the banks of the clear winding Devon, With green spreading bushes and flow’rs blooming fair! But the boniest flow’r on the banks of the Devon Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr. Mild be the […]