 | Solitary hours |  |
220
TO MY BIRDIE.
Here's only you an' me, Birdie! here's only you an me!
An' there you sit, you humdrum fowl!
Sae mute an' mopish as an owl—
Sour companie!
An' there you sit, you humdrum fowl!
Sae mute an' mopish as an owl—
Sour companie!
Sing me a little sang, Birdie! lilt up a little lay!
When folks are here, fu' fain are ye
To stun them with yere minstrelsie
The lee-lang day;
When folks are here, fu' fain are ye
To stun them with yere minstrelsie
The lee-lang day;
An' now we're only twa, Birdie! an' now we're only twa;
'Twere sure but kind an' cozie, Birdie!
To charm, wi' yere wee hurdy-gurdie,
Dull Care awa'.
'Twere sure but kind an' cozie, Birdie!
To charm, wi' yere wee hurdy-gurdie,
Dull Care awa'.
226
Ye ken, when folks are pair'd, Birdie! ye ken, when folks are pair'd,
Life's fair, an' foul and freakish weather,
An' light an' lumbrin' loads, thegither
Maun a' be shared;
Life's fair, an' foul and freakish weather,
An' light an' lumbrin' loads, thegither
Maun a' be shared;
An' shared wi' lovin' hearts, Birdie! wi' lovin' hearts an' free;
Fu' fashious loads may weel be borne,
An' roughest roads to velvet turn,
Trod cheerfully.
Fu' fashious loads may weel be borne,
An' roughest roads to velvet turn,
Trod cheerfully.
We've a' our cares an' crosses, Birdie! we've a' our cares an' crosses,
But then to sulk an' sit sae glum—
Hout! tout!—what guid o' that can come
To mend ane's losses?
But then to sulk an' sit sae glum—
Hout! tout!—what guid o' that can come
To mend ane's losses?
Ye're clipt in wiry fence, Birdie! ye're clipt in wiry fence;
An' aiblins I, gin I mote gang
Upo' a wish, wad be or lang
Wi' frien's far hence:
An' aiblins I, gin I mote gang
Upo' a wish, wad be or lang
Wi' frien's far hence:
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But what's a wish, ye ken, Birdie! but what's a wish, ye ken?
Nae cantrip naig, like hers of Fife,
Wha darnit wi' the auld weird wife,
Flood, fell, an' fen.
Nae cantrip naig, like hers of Fife,
Wha darnit wi' the auld weird wife,
Flood, fell, an' fen.
'Tis true, ye're furnish'd fair, Birdie! 'tis true, ye're furnish'd fair,
Wi' a braw pair o' bonnie wings,
Wad lift ye whar yon lav'rock sings,
High up i' th' air;
Wi' a braw pair o' bonnie wings,
Wad lift ye whar yon lav'rock sings,
High up i' th' air;
But then that wire's sae strang, Birdie! but then that wire's sae strang!
An' I mysel' sae seemin' free—
Nae wings have I to waften me
Whar fain I'd gang.
An' I mysel' sae seemin' free—
Nae wings have I to waften me
Whar fain I'd gang.
An' say we'd baith our wills, Birdie! we'd each our wilfu' way:
Whar lav'rocks hover, falcons fly;
An' snares an' pitfa's aften lie
Whar wishes stray.
Whar lav'rocks hover, falcons fly;
An' snares an' pitfa's aften lie
Whar wishes stray.
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An' ae thing weel I wot, Birdie! an' ae thing weel I wot—
There's Ane abune the highest sphere,
Wha cares for a' His creatures here,
Marks ev'ry lot;
There's Ane abune the highest sphere,
Wha cares for a' His creatures here,
Marks ev'ry lot;
Wha guards the crowned king, Birdie! wha guards the crowned king,
An' taketh heed for sic as me—
Sae little worth—an' e'en for thee,
Puir witless thing!
An' taketh heed for sic as me—
Sae little worth—an' e'en for thee,
Puir witless thing!
Sae now, let's baith cheer up, Birdie! an' sin' we're only twa—
Aff han'—let's ilk ane do our best,
To ding that crabbit, canker'd pest,
Dull Care awa'!
Aff han'—let's ilk ane do our best,
To ding that crabbit, canker'd pest,
Dull Care awa'!
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