Robert Burns: Lovely Young Jessie:

Lovely Young Jessie   1793 Type: Poem True hearted was he, the sad swain o’ the Yarrow, And fair are the maids on the banks of the Ayr; But by the sweet side o’ the Nith’s winding river, Are lovers as faithful, and maidens as fair: To equal young Jessie seek Scotland all over; To […]

Robert Burns: Lord Gregory:

Lord Gregory   1793 Type: Poem O mirk, mirk is this midnight hour, And loud the tempest’s roar; A waefu’ wanderer seeks thy tower, Lord Gregory, ope thy door. An exile frae her father’s ha’, And a’ for loving thee; At least some pity on me shaw, If love it may na be. Lord Gregory, […]

Robert Burns: Open The Door To Me, Oh:

Open The Door To Me, Oh   1793 Type: Poem Oh, open the door, some pity to shew, Oh, open the door to me, oh, Tho’ thou hast been false, I’ll ever prove true, Oh, open the door to me, oh. Cauld is the blast upon my pale cheek, But caulder thy love for me, […]

Robert Burns: Wandering Willie: Revised Version

Wandering Willie Revised Version1793 Type: Poem Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie, Here awa, there awa, haud awa hame; Come to my bosom, my ain only dearie, Tell me thou bring’st me my Willie the same. Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our parting, Fears for my Willie brought tears in my e’e, Welcome […]

Robert Burns: Wandering Willie: First Version

Wandering Willie First Version1793 Type: Poem Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie, Now tired with wandering, haud awa hame; Come to my bosom, my ae only dearie, And tell me thou bring’st me my Willie the same. Loud blew the cauld winter winds at our parting; It was na the blast brought the tear in […]

Robert Burns: Braw Lads O’ Galla Water:

Braw Lads O’ Galla Water   1793 Type: Poem Braw, braw lads on Yarrow-braes, They rove amang the blooming heather; But Yarrow braes, nor Ettrick shaws Can match the lads o’ Galla Water. But there is ane, a secret ane, Aboon them a’ I loe him better; And I’ll be his, and he’ll be mine, […]

Robert Burns: On Politics:

On Politics   1793 Type: Poem In Politics if thou would’st mix, And mean thy fortunes be; Bear this in mind,-be deaf and blind, Let great folk hear and see. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry by subject Poems by author and category Parallel translations, the parallel world of […]

Robert Burns: Poortith Cauld And Restless Love:

Poortith Cauld And Restless Love   1793 Type: Song Tune: Cauld Kail in Aberdeen. O poortith cauld, and restless love, Ye wrack my peace between ye; Yet poortith a’ I could forgive, An ’twere na for my Jeanie. Chorus-O why should Fate sic pleasure have, Life’s dearest bands untwining? Or why sae sweet a flower […]

Robert Burns: Here’s A Health To Them That’s Awa:

Here’s A Health To Them That’s Awa   1792 Type: Poem Here’s a health to them that’s awa, Here’s a health to them that’s awa; And wha winna wish gude luck to our cause, May never gude luck be their fa’! It’s gude to be merry and wise, It’s gude to be honest and true; […]

Robert Burns: Duncan Gray:

Duncan Gray   1792 Type: Poem Duncan Gray cam’ here to woo, Ha, ha, the wooing o’t, On blythe Yule-night when we were fou, Ha, ha, the wooing o’t, Maggie coost her head fu’ heigh, Look’d asklent and unco skeigh, Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh; Ha, ha, the wooing o’t. Duncan fleech’d and Duncan pray’d; […]

Robert Burns: Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson:

Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson   1792 Type: Extempore Dost thou not rise, indignant shade, And smile wi’ spurning scorn, When they wha wad hae starved thy life, Thy senseless turf adorn? Helpless, alane, thou clamb the brae, Wi’ meikle honest toil, And claught th’ unfading garland there- Thy sair-worn, rightful spoil. And wear […]

Robert Burns: Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character:

Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character   1792 Type: Epigram Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character Sweet naivete of feature, Simple, wild, enchanting elf, Not to thee, but thanks to Nature, Thou art acting but thyself. Wert thou awkward, stiff, affected, Spurning Nature, torturing art; Loves and Graces all […]

Robert Burns: Auld Rob Morris:

Auld Rob Morris   1792 Type: Poem There’s Auld Rob Morris that wons in yon glen, He’s the King o’ gude fellows, and wale o’ auld men; He has gowd in his coffers, he has owsen and kine, And ae bonie lass, his dautie and mine. She’s fresh as the morning, the fairest in May; […]

Robert Burns: Highland Mary:

Highland Mary   1792 Type: Song Tune: Katherine Ogie. Ye banks, and braes, and streams around The castle o’ Montgomery! Green be your woods, and fair your flowers, Your waters never drumlie: There Simmer first unfauld her robes, And there the langest tarry; For there I took the last Farewell O’ my sweet Highland Mary. […]

Robert Burns: My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing:

My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing   1792 Type: Song Tune: My Wife’s a Wanton Wee Thing. Chorus.-She is a winsome wee thing, She is a handsome wee thing, She is a lo’esome wee thing, This dear wee wife o’ mine. I never saw a fairer, I never lo’ed a dearer, And neist my heart […]

Robert Burns: I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig:

I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig   1792 Type: Poem When o’er the hill the eastern star Tells bughtin time is near, my jo, And owsen frae the furrow’d field Return sae dowf and weary O; Down by the burn, where birken buds Wi’ dew are hangin clear, my jo, I’ll meet thee on […]

Robert Burns: Fragment Of Song:

Fragment Of Song   1792 Type: Song No cold approach, no altered mien, Just what would make suspicion start; No pause the dire extremes between, He made me blest-and broke my heart. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry by subject Poems by author and category Parallel translations, the parallel […]

Robert Burns: Saw Ye Bonie Lesley:

Saw Ye Bonie Lesley   1792 Type: Poem O saw ye bonie Lesley, As she gaed o’er the Border? She’s gane, like Alexander, To spread her conquests farther. To see her is to love her, And love but her for ever; For Nature made her what she is, And never made anither! Thou art a […]

Robert Burns: Love For Love:

Love For Love   1792 Type: Poem Ithers seek they ken na what, Features, carriage, and a’ that; Gie me love in her I court, Love to love maks a’ the sport. Let love sparkle in her e’e; Let her lo’e nae man but me; That’s the tocher-gude I prize, There the luver’s treasure lies. […]

Robert Burns: Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel:

Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel   1792 Type: Poem O Leeze me on my spinnin’ wheel, And leeze me on my rock and reel; Frae tap to tae that cleeds me bien, And haps me biel and warm at e’en; I’ll set me down and sing and spin, While laigh descends the simmer sun, Blest […]

Robert Burns: The Country Lass:

The Country Lass   1792 Type: Poem In simmer, when the hay was mawn, And corn wav’d green in ilka field, While claver blooms white o’er the lea And roses blaw in ilka beild! Blythe Bessie in the milking shiel, Says-“I’ll be wed, come o’t what will”: Out spake a dame in wrinkled eild; “O’ […]

Robert Burns: The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman:

The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman   1792 Type: Poem The deil cam fiddlin’ thro’ the town, And danc’d awa wi’ th’ Exciseman, And ilka wife cries, “Auld Mahoun, I wish you luck o’ the prize, man.” Chorus-The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa, The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman, He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa, […]

Robert Burns: The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie:

The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie   1792 Type: Poem The bairns gat out wi’ an unco shout, The deuks dang o’er my daddie, O! The fien-ma-care, quo’ the feirrie auld wife, He was but a paidlin’ body, O! He paidles out, and he paidles in, rn’ he paidles late and early, O! This seven […]

Robert Burns: O Can Ye Labour Lea?:

O Can Ye Labour Lea?   1792 Type: Poem Chorus-O can ye labour lea, young man, O can ye labour lea? It fee nor bountith shall us twine Gin ye can labour lea. I fee’d a man at Michaelmas, Wi’ airle pennies three; But a’ the faut I had to him, He could na labour […]

Robert Burns: The Slave’s Lament:

The Slave’s Lament   1792 Type: Poem It was in sweet Senegal that my foes did me enthral, For the lands of Virginia,-ginia, O: Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more; And alas! I am weary, weary O: Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more; And alas! […]

Robert Burns: Kellyburn Braes:

Kellyburn Braes   1792 Type: Poem There lived a carl in Kellyburn Braes, Hey, and the rue grows bonie wi’ thyme; And he had a wife was the plague of his days, And the thyme it is wither’d, and rue is in prime. Ae day as the carl gaed up the lang glen, Hey, and […]

Robert Burns: Lady Mary Ann:

Lady Mary Ann   1792 Type: Poem O lady Mary Ann looks o’er the Castle wa’, She saw three bonie boys playing at the ba’, The youngest he was the flower amang them a’, My bonie laddie’s young, but he’s growin’ yet. O father, O father, an ye think it fit, We’ll send him a […]

Robert Burns: Sic A Wife As Willie Had:

Sic A Wife As Willie Had   1792 Type: Poem Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed, The spot they ca’d it Linkumdoddie; Willie was a wabster gude, Could stown a clue wi’ ony body: He had a wife was dour and din, O Tinkler Maidgie was her mither; Sic a wife as Willie had, I wad […]

Robert Burns: My Collier Laddie:

My Collier Laddie   1792 Type: Poem “Whare live ye, my bonie lass? And tell me what they ca’ ye;” “My name,” she says, “is mistress Jean, And I follow the Collier laddie.” “My name, she says, &c. “See you not yon hills and dales The sun shines on sae brawlie; They a’ are mine, […]

Robert Burns: Scroggam, My Dearie:

Scroggam, My Dearie   1792 Type: Poem There was a wife wonn’d in Cockpen, Scroggam; She brew’d gude ale for gentlemen; Sing auld Cowl lay ye down by me, Scroggam, my dearie, ruffum. The gudewife’s dochter fell in a fever, Scroggam; The priest o’ the parish he fell in anither; Sing auld Cowl lay ye […]

Robert Burns: When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed :

When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed   1792 Type: Poem O when she cam’ ben she bobbed fu’ law, O when she cam’ ben she bobbed fu’ law, And when she cam’ ben, she kiss’d Cockpen, And syne denied she did it at a’. And was na Cockpen right saucy witha’? And was na Cockpen […]

Robert Burns: The Weary Pund O’ Tow:

The Weary Pund O’ Tow   1792 Type: Poem Chorus.-The weary pund, the weary pund, The weary pund o’ tow; I think my wife will end her life, Before she spin her tow. I bought my wife a stane o’ lint, As gude as e’er did grow, And a’ that she has made o’ that […]

Robert Burns: Lines On Fergusson, The Poet :

Lines On Fergusson, The Poet   1792 Type: Poem Ill-fated genius! Heaven-taught Fergusson! What heart that feels and will not yield a tear, To think Life’s sun did set e’er well begun To shed its influence on thy bright career. O why should truest Worth and Genius pine Beneath the iron grasp of Want and […]

Robert Burns: My Native Land Sae Far Awa:

My Native Land Sae Far Awa   1791 Type: Poem O sad and heavy, should I part, But for her sake, sae far awa; Unknowing what my way may thwart, My native land sae far awa. Thou that of a’ things Maker art, That formed this Fair sae far awa, Gie body strength, then I’ll […]

Robert Burns: Thou Gloomy December :

Thou Gloomy December   1791 Type: Poem Ance mair I hail thee, thou gloomy December! Ance mair I hail thee wi’ sorrow and care; Sad was the parting thou makes me remember- Parting wi’ Nancy, oh, ne’er to meet mair! Fond lovers’ parting is sweet, painful pleasure, Hope beaming mild on the soft parting hour; […]

Robert Burns: Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive:

Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive   1791 Type: Poem Behold the hour, the boat, arrive! My dearest Nancy, O fareweel! Severed frae thee, can I survive, Frae thee whom I hae lov’d sae weel? Endless and deep shall be my grief; LNae ray of comfort shall I see, But this most precious, dear belief, […]