The Poetry of Robert Burns :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Poetry of Robert Burns

Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson

Burns, Robert (1759-1796)

[epigraph]

TO THE REV. JOHN M'MATH

TO DAVIE

TO JOHN KENNEDY, DUMFRIES HOUSE

TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ., MAUCHLINE

TO MR. M'ADAM OF CRAIGEN-GILLAN

REPLY TO AN INVITATION

TO DR. MACKENZIE

TO JOHN KENNEDY

TO WILLIE CHALMERS' SWEETHEART

TO AN OLD SWEETHEART

EXTEMPORE TO GAVIN HAMILTON

REPLY TO A TRIMMING EPISTLE RECEIVED FROM A TAILOR

TO MAJOR LOGAN

TO THE GUIDWIFE OF WAUCHOPE HOUSE

TO WM. TYTLER, ESQ., OF WOODHOUSELEE

TO MR. RENTON OF LAMERTON

TO MISS ISABELLA MACLEOD

TO SYMON GRAY

TO MISS FERRIER

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA

TO CLARINDA

TO HUGH PARKER

TO ALEX. CUNNINGHAM

TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ., OF FINTRY

IMPROMPTU TO CAPTAIN RIDDELL

REPLY TO A NOTE FROM CAPTAIN RIDDELL

TO JAMES TENNANT OF GLENCONNER

TO JOHN M'MURDO

SONNET TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FINTRY

EPISTLE TO DR. BLACKLOCK

TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD SENT A NEWSPAPER, AND OFFERED TO CONTINUE IT FREE OF EXPENSE

TO PETER STUART

TO JOHN MAXWELL, ESQ. OF TERRAUGHTIE

TO WILLIAM STEWART

INSCRIPTION TO MISS GRAHAM OF FINTRY

REMORSEFUL APOLOGY

TO COLLECTOR MITCHELL

TO COLONEL DE PEYSTER

TO MISS JESSIE LEWARS

INSCRIPTION

THEATRICAL PIECES

POLITICAL PIECES

THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY

III.

IV.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

TO MR. M'ADAM OF CRAIGEN-GILLAN

IN ANSWER TO AN OBLIGING LETTER HE SENT IN THE COMMENCEMENT OF MY POETIC CAREER

I

Sir, o'er a gill I gat your card,
I trow it made me proud.
‘See wha taks notice o' the Bard!’
I lap, and cry'd fu' loud.

II

Now deil-ma-care about their jaw,
The senseless, gawky million!
I'll cock my nose aboon them a':
I'm roos'd by Craigen-Gillan!

III

'Twas noble, sir; 'twas like yoursel,
To grant your high protection:
A great man's smile, ye ken fu' well,
Is ay a blest infection.

IV

Tho', by his banes wha in a tub
Match'd Macedonian Sandy!
On my ain legs thro' dirt and dub
I independent stand ay;

V

And when those legs to guid warm kail
Wi' welcome canna bear me,
A lee dyke-side, a sybow-tail,
An' barley-scone shall cheer me.

VI

Heaven spare you lang to kiss the breath
O' monie flow'ry simmers,
An' bless your bonie lasses baith
(I'm tauld they're loosome kimmers)!

VII

An' God bless young Dunaskin's laird,
The blossom of our gentry,
An' may he wear an auld man's beard,
A credit to his country!