by Robert Burns
Alphabetical List of Poems
117.
Farewell to Eliza (Song)
Tune— “Gilderoy.”
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, 5
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! 10
A boding voice is in mine ear,
We part to meet no more!
But the latest throb that leaves my heart,
While Death stands victor by, —
That throb, Eliza, is thy part, 15
And thine that latest sigh!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
118.
A Bard’s Epitaph
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, 5
And drap a tear.
Is there a bard of rustic song,
Who, noteless, steals the crowds among,
That weekly this area throng,
O, pass not by! 10
But, with a frater-feeling strong,
Here, heave a sigh.
Is there a man, whose judgment clear
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs, himself, life’s mad career, 15
Wild as the wave,
Here pause — and, thro’ the starting tear,
Survey this grave.
The poor inhabitant below
Was quick to learn the wise to know, 20
And keenly felt the friendly glow,
And softer flame;
But thoughtless follies laid him low,
And stain’d his name!
Reader, attend! whether thy soul 25
Soars fancy’s flights beyond the pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly hole,
In low pursuit:
Know, prudent, cautious, self-control
Is wisdom’s root. 30
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
119.
Epitaph for Robert Aiken, Esq.
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.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
120.
Epitaph for Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
THE POOR man weeps — here Gavin sleeps,
Whom canting wretches blam’d;
But with such as he, where’er he be,
May I be sav’d or d — d!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
121.
Epitaph on “Wee Johnnie”
Hic Jacet wee Johnie.
WHOE’ER thou art, O reader, know
That Death has murder’d Johnie;
An’ here his body lies fu’ low;
For saul he ne’er had ony.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
122.
The Lass o’ Ballochmyle
Tune— “Ettrick Banks.”
‘TWAS even — the dewy fields were green,
On every blade the pearls hang;
The zephyr wanton’d round the bean,
And bore its fragrant sweets alang:
In ev’ry glen the mavis sang, 5
All nature list’ning seem’d the while,
Except where greenwood echoes rang,
Amang the braes o’ Ballochmyle.
With careless step I onward stray’d,
My heart rejoic’d in nature’s joy, 10
When, musing in a lonely glade,
A maiden fair I chanc’d to spy:
Her look was like the morning’s eye,
Her air like nature’s vernal smile:
Perfection whisper’d, passing by, 15
“Behold the lass o’ Ballochmyle!”“
Fair is the morn in flowery May,
And sweet is night in autumn mild;
When roving thro’ the garden gay,
Or wand’ring in the lonely wild: 20
But woman, nature’s darling child!
There all her charms she does compile;
Even there her other works are foil’d
By the bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle.
O, had she been a country maid, 25
And I the happy country swain,
Tho’ shelter’d in the lowest shed
That ever rose on Scotland’s plain!
Thro’ weary winter’s wind and rain,
With joy, with rapture, I would toil; 30
And nightly to my bosom strain
The bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle.
Then pride might climb the slipp’ry steep,
Where frame and honours lofty shine;
And thirst of gold might tempt the deep, 35
Or downward seek the Indian mine:
Give me the cot below the pine,
To tend the flocks or till the soil;
And ev’ry day have joys divine
With the bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle. 40
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
123.
Lines to an Old Sweetheart
ONCE fondly lov’d, and still remember’d dear,
Sweet early object of my youthful vows,
Accept this mark of friendship, warm, sincere,
Friendship! ‘tis all cold duty now allows.
And when you read the simple artless rhymes, 5
One friendly sigh for him — he asks no more,
Who, distant, burns in flaming torrid climes,
Or haply lies beneath th’ Atlantic roar.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
124.
Motto prefixed to the Author’s first Publication
THE SIMPLE Bard, unbroke by rules of art,
He pours the wild effusions of the heart;
And if inspir’d ‘tis Nature’s pow’rs inspire;
Her’s all the melting thrill, and her’s the kindling fire.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
125.
Lines to Mr. John Kennedy
FAREWELL, dear friend! may guid luck hit you,
And ‘mang her favourites admit you:
If e’er Detraction shore to smit you,
May nane believe him,
And ony deil that thinks to get you, 5
Good Lord, deceive him!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
126.
Lines written on a Bank-note
WAE worth thy power, thou cursed leaf!
Fell source o’ a’ my woe and grief!
For lack o’ thee I’ve lost my lass!
For lack o’ thee I scrimp my glass!
I see the children of affliction 5
Unaided, through thy curst restriction:
I’ve seen the oppressor’s cruel smile
Amid his hapless victim’s spoil;
And for thy potence vainly wished,
To crush the villain in the dust: 10
For lack o’ thee, I leave this much-lov’d shore,
Never, perhaps, to greet old Scotland more.
R. B.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
127.
Stanzas on Naething
Extempore Epistle to Gavi
n Hamilton, Esq.
TO you, sir, this summons I’ve sent,
Pray, whip till the pownie is freathing;
But if you demand what I want,
I honestly answer you — naething.
Ne’er scorn a poor Poet like me, 5
For idly just living and breathing,
While people of every degree
Are busy employed about — naething.
Poor Centum-per-centum may fast,
And grumble his hurdies their claithing, 10
He’ll find, when the balance is cast,
He’s gane to the devil for — naething.
The courtier cringes and bows,
Ambition has likewise its plaything;
A coronet beams on his brows; 15
And what is a coronet — naething.
Some quarrel the Presbyter gown,
Some quarrel Episcopal graithing;
But every good fellow will own
Their quarrel is a’ about — naething. 20
The lover may sparkle and glow,
Approaching his bonie bit gay thing:
But marriage will soon let him know
He’s gotten — a buskit up naething.
The Poet may jingle and rhyme, 25
In hopes of a laureate wreathing,
And when he has wasted his time,
He’s kindly rewarded wi’ — naething.
The thundering bully may rage,
And swagger and swear like a heathen; 30
But collar him fast, I’ll engage,
You’ll find that his courage is — naething.
Last night wi’ a feminine whig —
A Poet she couldna put faith in;
But soon we grew lovingly big, 35
I taught her, her terrors were naething.
Her whigship was wonderful pleased,
But charmingly tickled wi’ ae thing,
Her fingers I lovingly squeezed,
And kissed her, and promised her — naething. 40
The priest anathèmas may threat —
Predicament, sir, that we’re baith in;
But when honour’s reveillé is beat,
The holy artillery’s naething.
And now I must mount on the wave — 45
My voyage perhaps there is death in;
But what is a watery grave?
The drowning a Poet is naething.
And now, as grim death’s in my thought,
To you, sir, I make this bequeathing; 50
My service as long as ye’ve ought,
And my friendship, by God, when ye’ve naething.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
128.
The Farewell
The valiant, in himself, what can he suffer?
Or what does he regard his single woes?
But when, alas! he multiplies himself,
To dearer serves, to the lov’d tender fair,
To those whose bliss, whose beings hang upon him,
To helpless children, — then, Oh then, he feels
The point of misery festering in his heart,
And weakly weeps his fortunes like a coward:
Such, such am I! — undone!
THOMSON’S Edward and Eleanora.
FAREWELL, old Scotia’s bleak domains,
Far dearer than the torrid plains,
Where rich ananas blow!
Farewell, a mother’s blessing dear!
A borther’s sigh! a sister’s tear! 5
My Jean’s heart-rending throe!
Farewell, my Bess! tho’ thou’rt bereft
Of my paternal care.
A faithful brother I have left,
My part in him thou’lt share! 10
Adieu, too, to you too,
My Smith, my bosom frien’;
When kindly you mind me,
O then befriend my Jean!
What bursting anguish tears my heart; 15
From thee, my Jeany, must I part!
Thou, weeping, answ’rest— “No!”
Alas! misfortune stares my face,
And points to ruin and disgrace,
I for thy sake must go! 20
Thee, Hamilton, and Aiken dear,
A grateful, warm adieu:
I, with a much-indebted tear,
Shall still remember you!
All hail then, the gale then, 25
Wafts me from thee, dear shore!
It rustles, and whistles
I’ll never see thee more!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
129.
The Calf
To the Rev. JAMES STEVEN, on his text, MALACHI, ch. iv. vers. 2. “And ye shall go forth, and grow up, as Calves of the stall.”
RIGHT, sir! your text I’ll prove it true,
Tho’ heretics may laugh;
For instance, there’s yourself just now,
God knows, an unco calf.
And should some patron be so kind, 5
As bless you wi’ a kirk,
I doubt na, sir but then we’ll find,
Ye’re still as great a stirk.
But, if the lover’s raptur’d hour,
Shall ever be your lot, 10
Forbid it, ev’ry heavenly Power,
You e’er should be a stot!
Tho’ when some kind connubial dear
Your but-and-ben adorns,
The like has been that you may wear 15
A noble head of horns.
And, in your lug, most reverend James,
To hear you roar and rowt,
Few men o’ sense will doubt your claims
To rank amang the nowt. 20
And when ye’re number’d wi’ the dead,
Below a grassy hillock,
With justice they may mark your head —
“Here lies a famous bullock!”
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
130.
Nature’s Law: A Poem
Humbly inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
“Great Nature spoke: observant man obey’d” — POPE.
LET other heroes boast their scars,
The marks of sturt and strife:
And other poets sing of wars,
The plagues of human life:
Shame fa’ the fun, wi’ sword and gun 5
To slap mankind like lumber!
I sing his name, and nobler fame,
Wha multiplies our number.
Great Nature spoke, with air benign,
“Go on, ye human race; 10
This lower world I you resign;
Be fruitful and increase.
The liquid fire of strong desire
I’ve pour’d it in each bosom;
Here, on this had, does Mankind stand, 15
And there is Beauty’s blossom.”
The Hero of these artless strains,
A lowly bard was he,
Who sung his rhymes in Coila’s plains,
With meikle mirth an’glee; 20
Kind Nature’s care had given his share
Large, of the flaming current;
And, all devout, he never sought
To stem the sacred torrent.
He felt the powerful, high behest 25
Thrill, vital, thro’ and thro’;
And sought a correspondent breast,
To give obedience due:
Propitious Powers screen’d the young flow’rs,
From mildews of abortion; 30
And low! the bard — a great reward —
Has got a double portion!
Auld cantie Coil may count the day,
As annual it returns,
The third of Libra’s equal sway, 35
That gave another Burns,
With future rhymes, an’ other times,
To emulate his sire:
To sing auld Coil in nobler style
&n
bsp; With more poetic fire. 40
Ye Powers of peace, and peaceful song,
Look down with gracious eyes;
And bless auld Coila, large and long,
With multiplying joys;
Lang may she stand to prop the land, 45
The flow’r of ancient nations;
And Burnses spring, her fame to sing,
To endless generations!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
131.
Willie Chalmers (Song)
Mr. Chalmers, a gentleman in Ayrshire, a particular friend of mine, asked me to write a poetic epistle to a young lady, his Dulcinea. I had seen her, but was scarcely acquainted with her, and wrote as follows: —
WI’ braw new branks in mickle pride,
And eke a braw new brechan,
My Pegasus I’m got astride,
And up Parnassus pechin;
Whiles owre a bush wi’ donwward crush, 5
The doited beastie stammers;
Then up he gets, and off he sets,