Poems and Songs Humorous, Serious and Satirical By Alexander Rodger; Edited, with Introduction and Notes by Robert Ford; New and Complete Edition |
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VERSES
WRITTEN ON BOARD “THE AYRSHIRE LASSIE” STEAMER
(CONSORT TO THE “ROBERT BURNS,”) DURING HER
SECOND TRIP DOWN THE CLYDE, ON MONDAY, 22ND
APRIL, 1839. |
 | Poems and Songs Humorous, Serious and Satirical |  |
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VERSES WRITTEN ON BOARD “THE AYRSHIRE LASSIE” STEAMER (CONSORT TO THE “ROBERT BURNS,”) DURING HER SECOND TRIP DOWN THE CLYDE, ON MONDAY, 22ND APRIL, 1839.
Welcome, bonnie Ayrshire Lassie!
To thy native home—the Clyde;
Wha in beauty may surpass thee
As thou brav'st the swelling tide?
Meet companion of thy “Robin,”
(He who took thee first in tow),
O'er the wavelets gently bobbin',
Beauty blooming on thy prow.
To thy native home—the Clyde;
Wha in beauty may surpass thee
As thou brav'st the swelling tide?
Meet companion of thy “Robin,”
(He who took thee first in tow),
O'er the wavelets gently bobbin',
Beauty blooming on thy prow.
256
As thou glidest o'er the waters,
Like a thing of life and light,
Say, 'mang Coila's far-famed daughters,
To whose name thou claim'st a right?
Light and lively as a fairy,
Buskit in thy robes o' green,
Art thou Burns' “Highland Mary”—
“Handsome Nell,” or “Bonnie Jean?”
Like a thing of life and light,
Say, 'mang Coila's far-famed daughters,
To whose name thou claim'st a right?
Light and lively as a fairy,
Buskit in thy robes o' green,
Art thou Burns' “Highland Mary”—
“Handsome Nell,” or “Bonnie Jean?”
Tell me art thou “Charming Chloris”—
“Nancy” on the “Banks o' Coil”—
“Darling” daughter o' “Rob Morris”—
Or the “Lass o' Ballochmyle?”
Art thou “Maggie,” proud and saucy,
Gecking at poor “Duncan Gray?”
Or the “milking shiel” “blythe Bessie,”
Lilting 'mang the new maun hay?
“Nancy” on the “Banks o' Coil”—
“Darling” daughter o' “Rob Morris”—
Or the “Lass o' Ballochmyle?”
Art thou “Maggie,” proud and saucy,
Gecking at poor “Duncan Gray?”
Or the “milking shiel” “blythe Bessie,”
Lilting 'mang the new maun hay?
Say, art thou the “Flower of Devon,”
“Once a Bud upon the Ayr?”
“Anna” wi' her light locks waving,
“Blooming Bell,” or “Lucy fair?”
Art thou “Bonnie Leslie Baillie,”
Fair as Eve in Eden's bower;
Or the fickle, “fair, fause Phely,”
Wi' a “new love” every hour?
“Once a Bud upon the Ayr?”
“Anna” wi' her light locks waving,
“Blooming Bell,” or “Lucy fair?”
Art thou “Bonnie Leslie Baillie,”
Fair as Eve in Eden's bower;
Or the fickle, “fair, fause Phely,”
Wi' a “new love” every hour?
Say, art thou the “spotless Nanny,”
Pure as dew-wet gowan's sheen?
Or the fond confiding “Annie,”
'Mang the “Barley rigs” at e'en?
Or, art thou the “artless lassie,”
Wi' the “lint white-locks” sae fair?
Or the peerless, hapless “Jessie,”
Waking thrillings o' despair?
Pure as dew-wet gowan's sheen?
Or the fond confiding “Annie,”
'Mang the “Barley rigs” at e'en?
Or, art thou the “artless lassie,”
Wi' the “lint white-locks” sae fair?
Or the peerless, hapless “Jessie,”
Waking thrillings o' despair?
Art thou—but nae mair I'll query;—
Lang may'st thou thy course pursue,
Tight and steady—light and airy,
O'er thy path of liquid blue.
Leeze me on thee! “Ayrshire Lassie,”
Thou may'st take each name by turns;
For these names were aft, my lassie,
Sweetly sung by “Robin Burns.”
Lang may'st thou thy course pursue,
Tight and steady—light and airy,
O'er thy path of liquid blue.
257
Thou may'st take each name by turns;
For these names were aft, my lassie,
Sweetly sung by “Robin Burns.”
| Poems and Songs Humorous, Serious and Satirical | |