Robert Burns: The Libeller’s Self-Reproof:

The Libeller’s Self-Reproof   1787 Type: Poem Rash mortal, and slanderous poet, thy name Shall no longer appear in the records of Fame; Dost not know that old Mansfield, who writes like the Bible, Says, the more ’tis a truth, sir, the more ’tis a libel! ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry […]

Robert Burns: To Miss Ferrier: Enclosing the Elegy on Sir J. H. Blair.

To Miss Ferrier Enclosing the Elegy on Sir J. H. Blair.1787 Type: Poem Nae heathen name shall I prefix, Frae Pindus or Parnassus; Auld Reekie dings them a’ to sticks, For rhyme-inspiring lasses. Jove’s tunefu’ dochters three times three Made Homer deep their debtor; But, gien the body half an e’e, Nine Ferriers wad done […]

Robert Burns: Impromptu On Carron Iron Works:

Impromptu On Carron Iron Works   1787 Type: Impromptu We cam na here to view your warks, In hopes to be mair wise, But only, lest we gang to hell, It may be nae surprise: But when we tirl’d at your door Your porter dought na hear us; Sae may, shou’d we to Hell’s yetts […]

Robert Burns: The Bard At Inverary:

The Bard At Inverary   1787 Type: Poem Whoe’er he be that sojourns here, I pity much his case, Unless he comes to wait upon The Lord their God, His Grace. There’s naething here but Highland pride, And Highland scab and hunger: If Providence has sent me here, ‘Twas surely in his anger. ————- Home […]

Robert Burns: Elegy On “Stella”: The following poem is the work of some hapless son of the Muses who deserved a better fate. There is a great deal of “The voice of Cona” in his solitary, mournful notes; and had the sentiments been clothed in Shenstone’s language, they would have been no discredit even to that elegant poet.-R.B.

Elegy On “Stella” The following poem is the work of some hapless son of the Muses who deserved a better fate. There is a great deal of “The voice of Cona” in his solitary, mournful notes; and had the sentiments been clothed in Shenstone’s language, they would have been no discredit even to that elegant […]

Robert Burns: Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher:

Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher   1787 Type: Lament Auld chuckie Reekie’s sair distrest, Down droops her ance weel burnish’d crest, Nae joy her bonie buskit nest Can yield ava, Her darling bird that she lo’es best- Willie’s awa! O Willie was a witty wight, And had o’ things an unco’ […]

Robert Burns: Hey, Ca’ Thro’ – Boat song:

Hey, Ca’ Thro’ – Boat song   1787 Type: song Up wi’ the carls o’ Dysart, And the lads o’ Buckhaven, And the kimmers o’ Largo, And the lasses o’ Leven. Chorus.-Hey, ca’ thro’, ca’ thro’, For we hae muckle ado. Hey, ca’ thro’, ca’ thro’, For we hae muckle ado; We hae tales to […]

Robert Burns: Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh:

Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh   1787 Type: Epitaph Ye maggots, feed on Nicol’s brain, For few sic feasts you’ve gotten; And fix your claws in Nicol’s heart, For deil a bit o’t’s rotten. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry by subject Poems by author […]

Robert Burns: Lines Written Under The Picture Of The Celebrated Miss Burns:

Lines Written Under The Picture Of The Celebrated Miss Burns   1787 Type: Poem Cease, ye prudes, your envious railing, Lovely Burns has charms-confess: True it is, she had one failing, Had a woman ever less? ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry by subject Poems by author and category […]

Robert Burns: A Bottle And Friend:

A Bottle And Friend   1787 Type: song There’s nane that’s blest of human kind, But the cheerful and the gay, man, Fal, la, la, &c. Here’s a bottle and an honest friend! What wad ye wish for mair, man? Wha kens, before his life may end, What his share may be o’ care, man? […]

Robert Burns: The Book-Worms:

The Book-Worms   1787 Type: Poem Through and through th’ inspir’d leaves, Ye maggots, make your windings; But O respect his lordship’s taste, And spare his golden bindings. ————- 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 translating poetry  […]

Robert Burns: My Lord A-Hunting:

My Lord A-Hunting   1787 Type: song Chorus.-My lady’s gown, there’s gairs upon’t, And gowden flowers sae rare upon’t; But Jenny’s jimps and jirkinet, My lord thinks meikle mair upon’t. My lord a-hunting he is gone, But hounds or hawks wi’ him are nane; By Colin’s cottage lies his game, If Colin’s Jenny be at […]

Robert Burns: The Bonie Moor-Hen:

The Bonie Moor-Hen   1787 Type: Poem The heather was blooming, the meadows were mawn, Our lads gaed a-hunting ae day at the dawn, O’er moors and o’er mosses and mony a glen, At length they discover’d a bonie moor-hen. Chorus.-I rede you, beware at the hunting, young men, I rede you, beware at the […]

Robert Burns: Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl’s Picture:

Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl’s Picture   1787 Type: Poem Whose is that noble, dauntless brow? And whose that eye of fire? And whose that generous princely mien, E’en rooted foes admire? Stranger! to justly show that brow, And mark that eye of fire, Would take His hand, whose vernal tints […]

Robert Burns: Epistle To Mrs. Scott: Gudewife of Wauchope-House, Roxburghshire.

Epistle To Mrs. Scott Gudewife of Wauchope-House, Roxburghshire.1787 Type: Epistle Gudewife, I Mind it weel in early date, When I was bardless, young, and blate, An’ first could thresh the barn, Or haud a yokin’ at the pleugh; An, tho’ forfoughten sair eneugh, Yet unco proud to learn: When first amang the yellow corn A […]

Robert Burns: Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet:

Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet   1787 Type: Inscription No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, “No storied urn nor animated bust;” This simple stone directs pale Scotia’s way, To pour her sorrows o’er the Poet’s dust. Additional Stanzas She mourns, sweet tuneful youth, thy hapless fate; Tho’ all the powers of […]

Robert Burns: Extempore In The Court Of Session:

Extempore In The Court Of Session   1787 Type: Extempore Tune: Killiercrankie. Lord Advocate He clenched his pamphlet in his fist, He quoted and he hinted, Till, in a declamation-mist, His argument he tint it: He gaped for’t, he graped for’t, He fand it was awa, man; But what his common sense came short, He […]

Robert Burns: Bonie Dundee:

Bonie Dundee   1787 Type: song My blessin’s upon thy sweet wee lippie! My blessin’s upon thy e’e-brie! Thy smiles are sae like my blythe sodger laddie, Thou’s aye the dearer, and dearer to me! But I’ll big a bow’r on yon bonie banks, Whare Tay rins wimplin’ by sae clear; An’ I’ll cleed thee […]

Robert Burns: Rattlin’, Roarin’ Willie:

Rattlin’, Roarin’ Willie   1787 Type: Poem Rattlin’, Roarin’ Willie As I cam by Crochallan, I cannilie keekit ben; Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie Was sittin at yon boord-en’; Sittin at yon boord-en, And amang gude companie; Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie, You’re welcome hame to me! ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry […]

Robert Burns: Mr. William Smellie -A Sketch:

Mr. William Smellie -A Sketch   1787 Type: Sketch Shrewd Willie Smellie to Crochallan came; The old cock’d hat, the grey surtout the same; His bristling beard just rising in its might, ‘Twas four long nights and days to shaving night: His uncomb’d grizzly locks, wild staring, thatch’d A head for thought profound and clear, […]

Robert Burns: Address To A Haggis:

Address To A Haggis   1786 Type: Address Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race! Aboon them a’ yet tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o’a grace As lang’s my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin was […]

Robert Burns: Yon Wild Mossy Mountains:

Yon Wild Mossy Mountains   1786 Type: song Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide, That nurse in their bosom the youth o’ the Clyde, Where the grouse lead their coveys thro’ the heather to feed, And the shepherd tends his flock as he pipes on his reed. Not Gowrie’s rich valley, nor Forth’s […]

Robert Burns: A Winter Night :

A Winter Night   1786 Type: Poem Poor naked wretches, wheresoe’er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm! How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, Your loop’d and window’d raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? Shakespeare When biting Boreas, fell and dour, Sharp shivers thro’ the leafless bow’r; When […]

Robert Burns: On Sensibility: Fragment

On Sensibility Fragment1786 Type: Poem Rusticity’s ungainly form May cloud the highest mind; But when the heart is nobly warm, The good excuse will find. Propriety’s cold, cautious rules Warm fervour may o’erlook: But spare poor sensibility Th’ ungentle, harsh rebuke. ————- Home Robert Burns Collection Fledermausi’s Poetry Page Poetry from Scotland  Poetry by subject […]

Robert Burns: Epistle To Major Logan:

Epistle To Major Logan   1786 Type: Epistle Epistle To Major Logan Hail, thairm-inspirin’, rattlin’ Willie! Tho’ fortune’s road be rough an’ hilly To every fiddling, rhyming billie, We never heed, But take it like the unback’d filly, Proud o’ her speed. When, idly goavin’, whiles we saunter, Yirr! fancy barks, awa we canter, Up […]

Robert Burns: Tam Samson’s Elegy: When this worthy old sportman went out, last muirfowl season, he supposed it was to be, in Ossian’s phrase, “the last of his fields,” and expressed an ardent wish to die and be buried in the muirs. On this hint the author composed his elegy and epitaph.-R.B., 1787.

Tam Samson’s Elegy When this worthy old sportman went out, last muirfowl season, he supposed it was to be, in Ossian’s phrase, “the last of his fields,” and expressed an ardent wish to die and be buried in the muirs. On this hint the author composed his elegy and epitaph.-R.B., 1787.1786 Type: Elegy An honest […]

Robert Burns: Composed In Spring:

Composed In Spring   1786 Type: Song Tune: Jockey’s Grey Breeks. Again rejoicing Nature sees Her 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’ […]

Robert Burns: To A Louse: On Seeing One On A Lady’s Bonnet, At Church

To A Louse On Seeing One On A Lady’s Bonnet, At Church1786 Type: Poem Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie? Your impudence protects you sairly; I canna say but ye strunt rarely, Owre gauze and lace; Tho’, faith! I fear ye dine but sparely On sic a place. Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner, Detested, […]

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: 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 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 […]