Section: «Poems»

Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings: artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.); a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").

To Alex. Cunningham, Esq., Writer, Edinburgh

MY godlike friend—nay, do not stare,You think the phrase is odd-like;But "God is love," the saints declare,Then surely thou art god-like.And is thy..

© Robert Burns

Epistle To William Simson

I GAT your letter, winsome Willie;Wi' gratefu' heart I thank you brawlie;Tho' I maun say't, I wad be silly,And unco vain,Should I believe, my coaxin..

© Robert Burns

Impromptu On Dumourier's Desertion Of The French Republican Army

YOU'RE welcome to Despots, Dumourier;You're welcome to Despots, Dumourier:How does Dampiere do?Ay, and Bournonville too?Why did they not come along..

© Robert Burns

Epitaph On John Rankine

AE day, as Death, that gruesome carl,Was driving to the tither warl'A mixtie-maxtie motley squad,And mony a guilt-bespotted lad—Black gowns of each..

© Robert Burns

Elegy On Willie Nicol's Mare

PEG NICHOLSON was a good bay mare,As ever trod on airn;But now she's floating down the Nith,And past the mouth o' Cairn.Peg Nicholson was a good bay..

© Robert Burns

Elegy On The Death Of Robert Ruisseaux

NOW Robin 1 lies in his last lair,He'll gabble rhyme, nor sing nae mair;Cauld poverty, wi' hungry stare,Nae mair shall fear him;Nor anxious fear, nor..

© Robert Burns

To Miss Ferrier, Enclosing Elegy On Sir J. H. Blair

NAE heathen name shall I prefix,Frae Pindus or Parnassus;Auld Reekie dings them a' to sticks,For rhyme-inspiring lasses.Jove's tunefu' dochters three..

© Robert Burns

Rhyming Reply To A Note From Captain Riddell

DEAR SIR, at ony time or tide,I'd rather sit wi' you than ride,Though 'twere wi' royal Geordie:And trowth, your kindness, soon and late,Aft gars me..

© Robert Burns

Fragment—altho' He Has Left Me

ALTHO' he has left me for greed o' the siller,I dinna envy him the gains he can win;I rather wad bear a' the lade o' my sorrow,Than ever hae acted..

© Robert Burns

Lines Inscribed In A Lady's Pocket Almanack

GRANT me, indulgent Heaven, that I may live,To see the miscreants feel the pains they give;Deal Freedom's sacred treasures free as air,Till Slave and..

© Robert Burns

Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson, Brewer

HERE Brewer Gabriel's fire's extinct,And empty all his barrels:He's blest—if, as he brew'd, he drink,In upright, honest morals.

© Robert Burns

Second Epistle To J. Lapraik

WHILE new-ca'd kye rowte at the stakeAn' pownies reek in pleugh or braik,This hour on e'enin's edge I take,To own I'm debtorTo honest-hearted, auld..

© Robert Burns

The Gowden Locks Of Anna

YESTREEN I had a pint o' wine,A place where body saw na;Yestreen lay on this breast o' mineThe gowden locks of Anna.The hungry Jew in..

© Robert Burns

Epigram On An Innkeeper (&Quot;The Marquis&Quot;)

HERE lies a mock Marquis, whose titles were shamm'd,If ever he rise, it will be to be damn'd.

© Robert Burns

Second Epistle To Robert Graham, Esq., Of Fintry

LATE crippl'd of an arm, and now a leg,About to beg a pass for leave to beg;Dull, listless, teas'd, dejected, and deprest(Nature is adverse to a..

© Robert Burns

Prologue, Spoken By Mr. Woods At Edinburgh

WHEN, by a generous Public's kind acclaim,That dearest meed is granted—honest fame;Waen here your favour is the actor's lot,Nor even the man in..

© Robert Burns

Epistle From Esopus To Maria

FROM those drear solitudes and frowsy cells,Where Infamy with sad Repentance dwells;Where turnkeys make the jealous portal fast,And deal from iron..

© Robert Burns

Epigram—thanks For A National Victory

YE hypocrites! are these your pranks?To murder men and give God thanks!Desist, for shame!—proceed no further;God won't accept your thanks for MURTHER

© Robert Burns

Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn

THE WIND blew hollow frae the hills,By fits the sun's departing beamLook'd on the fading yellow woods,That wav'd o'er Lugar's winding stream:Beneath..

© Robert Burns

Lines Written Under The Picture Of Miss Burns

CEASE, ye prudes, your envious railing,Lovely Burns has charms—confess:True it is, she had one failing,Had a woman ever less?

© Robert Burns

To Mr. M'Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan

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 cried fu' loud.Now deil-ma-care about their..

© Robert Burns

Epitaph For Robert Aiken, Esq.

KNOW thou, O stranger to the fameOf this much lov'd, much honoured name!(For none that knew him need be told)A warmer heart death ne'er made cold.

© Robert Burns

To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., Mauchline, Recommending A Boy

I HOLD it, sir, my bounden dutyTo warn you how that Master Tootie,Alias, Laird M'Gaun,Was here to hire yon lad away'Bout whom ye spak the tither..

© Robert Burns

Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell

NO more, ye warblers of the wood! no more;Nor pour your descant grating on my soul;Thou young-eyed Spring! gay in thy verdant stole,More welcome were..

© Robert Burns

The Fête Champêtre

O WHA will to Saint Stephen's House,To do our errands there, man?O wha will to Saint Stephen's HouseO' th' merry lads of Ayr, man?Or will we send a..

© Robert Burns