Impromptu on Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday by Robert Burns
Old Winter, with his frosty beard, Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred: “What have I done of all the year, To bear this hated doom severe? My cheerless suns no pleasure know; Night’s horrid car drags, dreary slow; My dismal months no joys are crowning, But spleeny English hanging, drowning. “Now Jove, for once […]
On Chloris being ill (Song) by Robert Burns
Chorus—Long, long the night, Heavy comes the morrow While my soul’s delight Is on her bed of sorrow. CAN I cease to care? Can I cease to languish, While my darling Fair Is on the couch of anguish? Long, long, &c. Ev’ry hope is fled, Ev’ry fear is terror, Slumber ev’n I dread, Ev’ry dream […]
How cruel are the parents by Robert Burns
How cruel are the parents Who riches only prize, And to the wealthy booby Poor Woman sacrifice! Meanwhile, the hapless Daughter Has but a choice of strife; To shun a tyrant Father’s hate— Become a wretched Wife. The ravening hawk pursuing, The trembling dove thus flies, To shun impelling ruin, Awhile her pinions tries; Till, […]
Had I a cave by Robert Burns
Had I a cave on some wild distant shore, Where the winds howl to the wave’s dashing roar: There would I weep my woes, There seek my lost repose, Till grief my eyes should close, Ne’er to wake more! Falsest of womankind, can’st thou declare All thy fond, plighted vows fleeting as air! To thy […]
Craigieburn Wood by Robert Burns
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 That’s laid in the bed beyond […]
Poem on Pastoral Poetry by Robert Burns
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, And sock or buskin skelp alang To death […]
Lines of John M’Murdo by Robert Burns
Blest be M’Murdo to his latest day! No envious cloud o’ercast his evening ray; No wrinkle, furrow’d by the hand of care, Nor ever sorrow add one silver hair! O may no son the father’s honour stain, Nor ever daughter give the mother pain! ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry […]
Inscription for an Alter of Independence by Robert Burns
Thou of an independent mind, With soul resolv’d, with soul resign’d; Prepar’d Power’s proudest frown to brave, Who wilt not be, nor have a slave; Virtue alone who dost revere, Thy own reproach alone dost fear— Approach this shrine, and worship here. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. […]
Epitaph on a Lap-dog by Robert Burns
In wood and wild, ye warbling throng, Your heavy loss deplore; Now, half extinct your powers of song, Sweet Echo is no more. Ye jarring, screeching things around, Scream your discordant joys; Now, half your din of tuneless sound With Echo silent lies. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, […]
Epigram on Miss Davies by Robert Burns
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. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — […]
Out over the Forth (Song) by Robert Burns
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 to rest, That happy my dreams and my […]
O aye my wife she dang me (Song) by Robert Burns
Chorus—O aye my wife she dang me, An’ aft my wife she bang’d me, If ye gie a woman a’ her will, Gude faith! she’ll soon o’er-gang ye. ON peace an’ rest my mind was bent, And, fool I was! I married; But never honest man’s intent Sane cursedly miscarried. O aye my wife, &c. […]
Hey, the Dusty Miller (Song) by Robert Burns
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 the calling Fills the dusty peck: Fills the […]
Fragment – Wee Willie Gray (Song) by Robert Burns
Wee Willie Gray, and his leather wallet, Peel a willow wand to be him boots and jacket; The rose upon the breir will be him trews an’ doublet, The rose upon the breir will be him trews an’ doublet, Wee Willie Gray, and his leather wallet, Twice a lily-flower will be him sark and cravat; […]
Farewell to Eliza (Song) by Robert Burns
From thee, Eliza, I must go, And from my native shore; The cruel fates between us throw A boundless ocean’s roar: But boundless oceans, roaring wide, Between my love and me, They never, never can divide My heart and soul from thee. Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear, The maid that I adore! A boding voice is […]
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies by Robert Burns
A’ ye wha live by sowps o’ drink, A’ ye wha live by crambo-clink, A’ ye wha live and never think, Come, mourn wi’ me! Our billie ’s gien us a’ a jink, An’ owre the sea! Lament him a’ ye rantin core, Wha dearly like a random splore; Nae mair he’ll join the merry […]
Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots by Robert Burns
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 That fast in durance lies. Now laverocks wake the merry morn Aloft on dewy wing; […]
Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn by Robert Burns
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 had all untimely ta’en. He lean’d him to an ancient […]
Impromptu on Dumourier’s Desertion of the French Republican Army by Robert Burns
You’re welcome to Despots, Dumourier; You’re welcome to Despots, Dumourier: How does Dampiere do? Ay, and Bournonville too? Why did they not come along with you, Dumourier? I will fight France with you, Dumourier; I will fight France with you, Dumourier; I will fight France with you, I will take my chance with you; By […]
Grace before and after Meat by Robert Burns
O Lord, when hunger pinches sore, Do thou stand us in stead, And send us, from thy bounteous store, A tup or wether head! Amen. — O Lord, since we have feasted thus, Which we so little merit, Let Meg now take away the flesh, And Jock bring in the spirit! Amen. ————— The End […]
Epitaph for Robert Aiken by Robert Burns
Know thou, O stranger to the fame Of this much lov’d, much honoured name! (For none that knew him need be told) A warmer heart death ne’er made cold. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world […]
Epistle to a Young Friend by Robert Burns
May—, 1786.I lang hae thought, my youthfu’ friend, A something to have sent you, Tho’ it should serve nae ither end Than just a kind memento: But how the subject-theme may gang, Let time and chance determine; Perhaps it may turn out a sang: Perhaps turn out a sermon. Ye’ll try the world soon, my […]
Address to Beelzebub by Robert Burns
Long life, my Lord, an’ health be yours, Unskaithed by hunger’d Highland boors; Lord grant me nae duddie, desperate beggar, Wi’ dirk, claymore, and rusty trigger, May twin auld Scotland o’ a life She likes—as butchers like a knife. Faith you and Applecross were right To keep the Highland hounds in sight: I doubt na! […]
A Grace after Meat by Robert Burns
Lord, we thank, and thee adore, For temporal gifts we little merit; At present we will ask no more— Let William Hislop give the spirit. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — […]
A Dream by Robert Burns
Guid-mornin’ to our Majesty! May Heaven augment your blisses On ev’ry new birth-day ye see, A humble poet wishes. My bardship here, at your Levee On sic a day as this is, Is sure an uncouth sight to see, Amang thae birth-day dresses Sae fine this day. I see ye’re complimented thrang, By mony a […]
A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton by Robert Burns
Expect na, sir, in this narration, A fleechin, fleth’rin Dedication, To roose you up, an’ ca’ you guid, An’ sprung o’ great an’ noble bluid, Because ye’re surnam’d like His Grace— Perhaps related to the race: Then, when I’m tir’d-and sae are ye, Wi’ mony a fulsome, sinfu’ lie, Set up a face how I […]
A Bard’s Epitaph by Robert Burns
Is there a whim-inspirèd fool, Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule, Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool, Let him draw near; And owre this grassy heap sing dool, And drap a tear. Is there a bard of rustic song, Who, noteless, steals the crowds among, That weekly this area throng, O, […]
The Storm by Rainbow Reed
The Storm by Rainbow Reed On granite rock, The woman sat. Damp hair trickled down her back, Azure highlights glimmering, Golden curls shimmering. Seaweed sparkled; waving wildly White foam horses rear and pound, Surging through the rocky mound. Crashing against the sleeping stone. Woman sits and Stares alone. Black cloud glares, Fog horn blares, Lightning […]
The Mystic Isle by Rainbow Reed
The isle arose from swirling mists, Slicing through the broken skies, Lurking beneath the whitened waters, Dark hungry fangs of piercing stone Impatiently waiting for their prey: A trawler beached on Mystic Rock. Darkened creatures with heads of foam, Shake seaweed hair and madly moan. Watch wood crash into surging tides, Splinters fly, while the […]
The Chipmunk by R. L. Karlowsky
The Chipmunk by R. L. Karlowsky The Chipmunk ran from tree to burrow, gathering food to store for tomorrow. From sunrise to set he filled his stores, the others laughed, take a break from your chores. The Crow stopped him quick in his track, where do you go, you’re running so fast? The Chipmunk panting, […]
The Sandbox by Rachel McKibbens
for Lisa or Laurie We held each other in silence mouth against mouth blood & thunder scorching the grass Behind the shed I played the husband brutish breadwinner choking her flesh in my troubled hands pulling her head back to lick from neck to ear in frenzied thrill The kind of love I learned from […]
Since you asked by Radames Antonio Cruz
I’m nothing but a shell of what once was Coming out of a personal hell Where, although I did not choose to stay, still often I would dwell Unchained but in a cell, it seems, made from the very cells, Which make up my physical being This me What I am I cannot tell For […]
Primrose Rose by Rainbow Reed
Primrose Rose by Rainbow Reed Silently, they stopped to stare, At the freak with raven hair, His eyes rings of Dante black, Angry looks burnt through his back. Strange black clothes flapped in the air. Flying back to darkened lair. Primrose Close, closed its eyes, Abnormals were despised. Close people; pillars of good, Bedrock, of […]
Prayers by Rainbow Reed
Jimmy Choos’ stalked across the floor, Ripping, clawing against the antiqued oak, Stuttered, stiffened; listened to deep silence Then slowly circled, nowhere once more. The gold straps coiled around her calf’s, Winding, binding, painfully twisting… D. and G. suit clinging about her, Her grey silk blouse rustled in the breeze, While around her stalk, staccato […]
Snow & Ice by Quincy Troupe
Snow & Ice by Quincy Troupe ice sheets sweep this slick mirrored dark place space as keys that turn in tight, trigger pain of situations where we move ever so slowly so gently into time — traced agony the bright turning of imagination so slowly grooved through revolving doors, opening up to enter mountains where […]
Untitled by Quincy Troupe
Untitled by Quincy Troupe in brussels, eye sat in the grand place cafe & heard duke’s place, played after salsa between the old majestic architecture, jazz bouncing off all that gilded gold history snoring complacently there flowers all over the ground, up inside the sound the old white band jammin the music tight & heavy, […]
Poem Reaching For Something by Quincy Troupe
Poem Reaching For Something by Quincy Troupe we walk through a calligraphy of hats slicing off foreheads ace-deuce cocked, they slant, razor sharp, clean through imagination, our spirits knee-deep in what we have forgotten entrancing our bodies now to dance, like enraptured water lilies the rhythm in liquid strides of certain looks eyeballs rippling through […]
I Hardly Remember by Rafael Guillen
I Hardly Remember by Rafael Guillen I hardly remember your voice, but the pain of you floats in some remote current of my blood. I carry you in my depths, trapped in the sludge like one of those corpses the sea refuses to give up. It was a spoiled remnant of the South. A beach […]
Not Fear by Rafael Guillen
Not Fear by Rafael Guillen Not fear. Maybe, out there somewhere, the possibility of fear; the wall that might tumble down, because it’s for sure that behind it is the sea. Not fear. Fear has a countenance; It’s external, concrete, like a rifle, a shot bolt, a suffering child, like the darkness that’s hidden in […]
Online Lover by Rainbow Reed
City sounds screamed and swirled, Sirens raced through neon world, Shutters shook, while ghost trucks sped Lewd vacant sign flashed deep red. Her laptop buzzed and flickered, While angry parents bickered. She stared at the screen entranced, Red electric shadows danced. Angry voices drifted near, Pa sailed in on wave of fear, “Switch that off!” […]