 | Poems |  |
138
THE COTTAR'S LAMENT.
An' maun we leave our heartsome hame,
To wander far awa';
An' maun we leave the glen sae lown,
Below the birken shaw;
To wander far awa';
An' maun we leave the glen sae lown,
Below the birken shaw;
An' maun our wee things nae mair wade,
An' paidle in the burn;
An' maun we a', baith auld and young,
Learn,—Man was made to mourn!
An' paidle in the burn;
An' maun we a', baith auld and young,
Learn,—Man was made to mourn!
In some unhalesome, darksome town,
We'll, ablins, find a bield;
An' whan we're sick, the house o' dool
Our helpless heads will shield:
We'll, ablins, find a bield;
An' whan we're sick, the house o' dool
Our helpless heads will shield:
139
But nae kent faces there will sit
To watch the troubled hour;
An' stranger's hands will turn the couch,
Wi' looks baith cauld and doure:
To watch the troubled hour;
An' stranger's hands will turn the couch,
Wi' looks baith cauld and doure:
The bloom upon the infant cheeks,
That glint wi' thoughtless glee,
Will fade right fast; and for the rose,
A sallow hue we'll see.
That glint wi' thoughtless glee,
Will fade right fast; and for the rose,
A sallow hue we'll see.
O then gif fok, wha hae the power,
This ae cot-house wad spare!
Our wee things' hands, up wa' and roof,
Wad train the woodbine fair.
This ae cot-house wad spare!
Our wee things' hands, up wa' and roof,
Wad train the woodbine fair.
A sweetbrier hedge we'd plant a' round,
To scent the gloamin' hour;
And change a cottar's hamely hut
Into a bonny bower.
To scent the gloamin' hour;
And change a cottar's hamely hut
Into a bonny bower.
O gin the fok, wha hae the power,
Wad say the word—remain;
What they in gowd and siller tint,
They wad in blessins gain:
Wad say the word—remain;
What they in gowd and siller tint,
They wad in blessins gain:
140
Aye, nameless ways, by us unseen,
God weel or wae extends,
An' aften as the deed deserves,
Heaven's dew or blight descends.
God weel or wae extends,
An' aften as the deed deserves,
Heaven's dew or blight descends.
| Poems | |