Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/181
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THE POEMS OF BURNS.
127
TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FINTRY,
ON RECEIVING A FAVOUR.
I call no Goddess to inspire my strains,
A fabled Muse may suit a Bard that feigns;
Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns,
And all the tribute of my heart returns,
For boons recorded, goodness ever new,
The gift still dearer, as the giver you.
Thou orb of day! thou other paler light!
A fabled Muse may suit a Bard that feigns;
Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns,
And all the tribute of my heart returns,
For boons recorded, goodness ever new,
The gift still dearer, as the giver you.
Thou orb of day! thou other paler light!
And all ye many sparkling stars of night;
If aught that giver from my mind efface;
If I that giver's bounty e'er disgrace;
Then roll to me, along your wand'ring spheres,
Only to number out a villain's years!
If aught that giver from my mind efface;
If I that giver's bounty e'er disgrace;
Then roll to me, along your wand'ring spheres,
Only to number out a villain's years!
VERSES WRITTEN AT SELKIRK.
Auld chuckie Reekie's sair distrest,
Down droops her ance weel burnish't crest,
Nae joy her bonie buskit nest
Can yield ava,
Her darling bird that she lo'es best,
Willie's awa!
Down droops her ance weel burnish't 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 slight;
Auld Reekie aye he keepit tight,
An' trig an' braw:
But now they'll busk her like a fright,
Willie's awa!
And had o' things an unco slight;
Auld Reekie aye he keepit tight,
An' trig an' braw:
But now they'll busk her like a fright,
Willie's awa!
The stiffest o' them a' he bow'd;
The bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;
They durst nae mair than he allow'd,
That was a law:
We've lost a birkie weel worth gowd,
Willie's awa!
The bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;
They durst nae mair than he allow'd,
That was a law:
We've lost a birkie weel worth gowd,
Willie's awa!
Now gawkies, tawpies, gowks, and fools,
Frae colleges and boarding-schools,
May sprout like simmer puddock-stools
In glen or shaw;
He wha could brush them down to mools,
Willie's awa!
Frae colleges and boarding-schools,
May sprout like simmer puddock-stools
In glen or shaw;
He wha could brush them down to mools,
Willie's awa!
The brethren o' the Commerce-Chaumer
May mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour;
He was a dictionar and grammar
Amang them a';
I fear they'll now mak mony a stammer,
Willie's awa!
May mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour;
He was a dictionar and grammar
Amang them a';
I fear they'll now mak mony a stammer,
Willie's awa!
Nae mair we see his levee door
Philosophers and Poets pour,
And toothy critics by the score,
In bloody raw,
The adjutant o' a' the core,
Willie's awa!
Philosophers and Poets pour,
And toothy critics by the score,
In bloody raw,
The adjutant o' a' the core,
Willie's awa!
Now worthy Gregory's latin face,
Tytler's and Greenfield's modest grace;
M'Kenzie, Stuart, sic a brace
As Rome ne'er saw;
They a' maun meet some ither place,
Willie's awa!
Tytler's and Greenfield's modest grace;
M'Kenzie, Stuart, sic a brace
As Rome ne'er saw;
They a' maun meet some ither place,
Willie's awa!
Poor Burns e'en Scotch drink canna quicken,
He cheeps like some bewildered chicken
Scar'd frae its minnie and the cleckin
By hoodie-craw;
Grief's gien his heart an unco kickin',
Willie's awa!
He cheeps like some bewildered chicken
Scar'd frae its minnie and the cleckin
By hoodie-craw;
Grief's gien his heart an unco kickin',
Willie's awa!