For the Death of Her Son. Fate gave the word, the arrow sped, And pierc'd my darling's heart; And with him all the joys are fled Life can to me impart. By cruel hands the sapling drops, In dust dishonour'd laid; So fell the pride of all my hopes, My age's future shade. The mother-linnet in the brake Bewails her ravish'd young; So I, for my lost...Learn More

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 lord an’ lady; “God save the King” ’s a cuckoo...Learn More

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty Wi' bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee Wi' murd'ring pattle! I'm truly sorry Man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union An' justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth-born companion An'...Learn More

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin'-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye worthy o' a grace As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o need, While thro your pores the dews distil Like amber...Learn More

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....Learn More

Fourteen, a sonneteer thy praises sings; What magic myst'ries in that number lie! Your hen hath fourteen eggs beneath her wings That fourteen chickens to the roost may fly. Fourteen full pounds the jockey's stone must be; His age fourteen--a horse's prime is past. Fourteen long hours too oft the Bard must fast; Fourteen bright bumpers--bliss he...Learn More

My curse upon your venom'd stang, That shoots my tortur'd gums alang; And thro' my lugs gies mony a twang, Wi' gnawing vengeance; Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang, Like racking engines! When fevers burn, or ague freezes, Rheumatics gnaw, or cholic squeezes; Our neighbors' sympathy may ease us, Wi' pitying moan; But thee -- thou hell o' a'...Learn More

Chorus.—O lovely Polly Stewart, O charming Polly Stewart, There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May, That's half so fair as thou art! The flower it blaws, it fades, it fa's, And art can ne'er renew it; But worth and truth, eternal youth Will gie to Polly Stewart, O lovely Polly Stewart, &c. May he whase arms shall fauld thy charms Possess a leal...Learn More

[Verse 1] Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne [Chorus] For auld lang syne, my jo, For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne [Verse 2] And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp And surely I’ll be mine And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For...Learn More

When chapmen billies leave the street, And drouthy neibors, neibors meet As market days are wearing late, An' folk begin to tak the gate; While we sit bousing at the nappy, And getting fou and unco happy, We think na on the lang Scots miles, The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles, That lie between us and our hame, Where sits our sulky sullen...Learn More