 | The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill |  |
THE WORN SOLDIER.
The Queensferry boatie rows light,
And light is the heart that it bears,
For it brings the poor soldier safe back to his home,
From many long toilsome years.
And light is the heart that it bears,
For it brings the poor soldier safe back to his home,
From many long toilsome years.
31
How sweet are his green native hills,
As they smile to the beams of the west;
But sweeter by far is the sunshine of hope
That gladdens the soldier's breast!
As they smile to the beams of the west;
But sweeter by far is the sunshine of hope
That gladdens the soldier's breast!
I can well mark the tears of his joy,
As the wave-beaten pier he ascends,
For already, in fancy, he enters his home,
'Midst the greetings of tender friends.
As the wave-beaten pier he ascends,
For already, in fancy, he enters his home,
'Midst the greetings of tender friends.
But fled are his visions of bliss,
All his transports but rose to deceive;
He found the dear cottage a tenantless waste,
And his kindred all sunk in the grave.
All his transports but rose to deceive;
He found the dear cottage a tenantless waste,
And his kindred all sunk in the grave.
Lend a sigh to the soldier's grief,
For now he is helpless and poor,
And, forced to solicit a slender relief,
He wanders from door to door.
For now he is helpless and poor,
And, forced to solicit a slender relief,
He wanders from door to door.
To him let your answers be mild,
And, oh! to the suff'rer be kind!
For the look of indiff'rence, the frown of disdain,
Bears hard on a generous mind.
And, oh! to the suff'rer be kind!
For the look of indiff'rence, the frown of disdain,
Bears hard on a generous mind.
| The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | |