while birds warble wees in ilka green shaw,
but to me it's delightless—my nanie's awa.
the snawdrap and primrose our woodlands adorn,
and violetes bathe in the weet o' the morn;
they pain my sad bosom, sae sweetly they blaw,
they mind me o' nanie—and nanie's awa.
thou lav'rock that springs frae the dews of the lawn,
the shepherd to warn o' the grey-breaking dawn,
and thou mellow mavis that hails the night-fa',
give over for pity—my nanie's awa.
e autumn, sae pensive, in yellow and grey,
and soothe me wi' tidings o' nature's decay:
the dark, dreary winter, and wild-driving snaw
alane can delight me—now nanie's awa.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns the tear-drop the tear-drop
wae is my heart, and the tear's in my e'e;
lang, lang has joy been a stranger to me:
forsaken and friendless, my burden i bear,
and the sweet voice o' pity ne'er sounds in my ear.
love thou hast pleasures, and deep hae i luv'd;
love, thou hast sorrows, and sair hae i pruv'd;
but this bruised heart that now bleeds in my breast,
i can feel, by its throbbings, will soon be at rest.
oh, if i were—where happy i hae been—
down by yon stream, and yon bonie castle-green;
for there he is wand'ring and musing on me,
wha wad soon dry the tear-drop that clings to my e'e.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns for the sake o somebody for the sake o' somebody
my heart is sair—i dare na tell,
my heart is sair for somebody;
i could wake a winter night
for the sake o' somebody.
o-hon! for somebody!
o-hey! for somebody!
i could range the world around,
for the sake o' somebody.
ye powers that smile on virtuous love,
o, sweetly smile on somebody!
frae ilka danger keep him free,
and send me safe my somebody!
o-hon! for somebody!
o-hey! for somebody!
i wad do—what wad i not?
for the sake o' somebody.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns a mans a man for a that 1795
a man's a man for a' that
tune—“for a' that.”
is there for honest poverty
that hings his head, an' a' that;
the coward slave—we pass him by,
we dare be poor for a' that!
for a' that, an' a' that.
our toils obscure an' a' that,
the rank is but the guinea's stamp,
the man's the gowd for a' that.
what though on hamely fare we dine,
wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
a man's a man for a' that:
for a' that, and a' that,
their tinsel show, an' a' that;
the honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
is king o' men for a' that.
ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
tho' hundreds worship at his word,
he's but a coof for a' that:
for a' that, an' a' that,
his ribband, star, an' a' that:
the man o' independent mind
he looks an' laughs at a' that.
a prince can mak a belted knight,
a marquis, duke, an' a' that;
but an honest man's abon his might,
gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
for a' that, an' a' that,
their dignities an' a' that;
the pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
are higher rank than a' that.
then let us pray thate it may,
(ase it will for a' that,)
that sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,
shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
for a' that, an' a' that,
it'sing yet for a' that,
that man to man, the world o'er,
shall brothers be for a' that.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns craigieburn d craigieburn wood
sweet fa's the eve on craigieburn,
and blythe awakes the morrow;
but a' the pride o' spring's return
can yield me nocht but sorrow.
i see the flowers and spreading trees,
i hear the wild birds singing;
but what a weary wight can please,
and care his bosom wringing!
fain, fain would i my griefs impart,
yet dare na for your anger;
but secret love will break my heart,
if i conceal it langer.
if thou refuse to pity me,
if thou shalt love another,
when yon green leaves fade frae the tree,
around my grave they'll wither.
versicles of 1795
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns the solemn league and covenant the solemn league and covenant
the solemn league and covenant
now brings a smile, now brings a tear;
but sacred freedom, too, was theirs:
if thou'rt a slave, indulge thy sneer.
pliments of john syme of ryedale
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns lines sent with a present of a dozen of porter. lines sent with a present of a dozen of porter.
o had the malt thy strength of mind,
or hops the flavour of thy wit,
'twere drink for first of human kind,
a gift that e'en for syme were fit.
jerusalem tavern, dumfries.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns inscription on a goblet inscription on a goblet
there's death in the cup, so beware!
nay, more—there is danger in touching;
but who can avoid the fell snare,
the man and his wine's so bewitching!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns apology for declining an invitation to dine apology for declining an invitation to dine
no more of your guests, be they titled or not,
and cookery the first in the nation;
who is proof to thy personal converse and wit,
is proof to all other temptation.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns epitaph for mr. gabriel richardson epitaph for mr. gabriel richardson
here brewer gabriel's fire's extinct,
and empty all his barrels:
he's blest—if, as he brew'd, he drink,
in upright, honest morals.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns epigram on mr. james gracie epigram on mr. james gracie
gracie, thou art a man of worth,
o be thou dean for ever!
may he be damned to hell henceforth,
who fauts thy weight or measure!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns bonie peg-a-ramsay bonie peg-a-ramsay
cauld is the e'enin blast,
o' boreas o'er the pool,
an' dawin' it is dreary,
when birks are bare at yule.
cauld blaws the e'enin blast,
when bitter bites the frost,
and, in the mirk and dreary drift,
the hills and glens are lost:
ne'er sae murky blew the night
that drifted o'er the hill,
but bonie peg-a-ramsay
gat grist to her mill.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns inscription at friars carse hermitage inscription at friars' carse hermitage
to the memory of robert riddell.
to riddell, much lamented man,
this ivied cot was dear;
wandr'er, dost value matchless worth?
this ivied cot revere.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns there was a bonie lass there was a bonie lass
there was a bonie lass, and a bonie, bonie lass,
and she lo'ed her bonie laddie dear;
till war's loud alarms tore her laddie frae her arms,
wi' mony a sigh and tear.
over sea, over shore, where the cannons loudly roar,
he still was a stranger to fear;
and nocht could him quail, or his bosom assail,
but the bonie lass he lo'ed sae dear.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns wee willie gray wee willie gray
tune—“wee totum fogg.”
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,