A wee bit o' Burns

[John Donnelly]

Thanks PT, JD.

[Penny Tray]

She has my heart, she has my hand,
By secret troth and honor’s band!
‘Till the mortal stroke shall lay me low,
I’m thine, my Highland lassie, O!

*MY HIGHLAND LASSIE, O!

[Penny Tray]

Go on, my Lord! I lang to meet you,
An’ in my ‘house at hame’ to greet you;
Wi’ common lords ye shanna mingle,
The benmost neuk beside the ingle,
At my right han’ assigned your seat,
‘Tween Herod’s hip and Polycrate;
Or (if you on your station tarrow),
Between Almagro and Pizarro,
A seat, I’m sure ye’re well deservin’t;
An’ till ye come – your humble servant,
BEELZEBUB

*ADDRESS TO BEELZEBUB

[Penny Tray]

As father Adam first was fool’d,
A case that’s still too common,
Here lies a man a woman ruled –
The Devil ruled the woman.

*EPITAPH ON A HENPECKED SQUIRE

[Penny Tray]

Whereas, our Fiscal, by petition,
Informs us there is strong suspicion,
You, Coachman Dow, and Clockie Brown,
Baith residenters in this town;
In other words, you Jock, and Sandy,
Hae been at wark at Houghmagandie;
And now when facts are come to light,
The matter ye deny outright.

*LIBEL SUMMONS

[Penny Tray]

Lament him, Mauchline husbands a’,
He aften did assist ye;
For had ye staid hale weeks awa’
Your wives they ne’er had missed ye!

Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye pass
To school in bands thegither,
O, tread ye lightly on his grass –
Perhaps he was your father!

*EPITAPH FOR A WAG IN MAUCHLINE

[Penny Tray]

Some gapin’, glowerin’ countra laird
May warsle for your favour;
May claw his lug, and straik his beard,
And hoast up some palaver.
My bonie maid, before ye wed
Sic clumsy-witted hammers,
Seek Heaven for help, and barefit skelp
Awa’ wi’ Willie Chalmers.

*WILLIE CHALMERS

[Penny Tray]

Our Master and the Brotherhood
Wad a’ be glad to see you.
For me, I wad be mair than proud
To share the mercies wi’ you.
If Death, then, wi’ skaith, then,
Some mortal heart is hechtin’,
Inform him, an’ storm him,
That Saturday you’ll fecht him.

*TO DR. MACKENZIE, MAUCHLINE

[Penny Tray]

May Freedom, Harmony, and Love,
Unite you in the Grand Design,
Beneath th’ Omniscient Eye above –
The glorious Architect Divine,
That you may keep th’ Unerring Line,
Still rising by the Plummet’s Law,
Till Order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray’r when far awa’.

*THE FAREWELL

[Penny Tray]

Guid-mornin’ to your Majesty!
May heaven augment your blisses,
On ev’ry new birthday ye see,
A humble poet wishes!
My Bardship here, at your Levee,
On sic a day as this is,
Is sure an uncouth sight to see,
Amang thae birthday dresses
Sae fine this day.

*A DREAM

[John Donnelly]

Now that's a coincidence.
Yesterday was the King's birthday here in NL and it is always a huge street party - the whole day. It is a public holiday and really is a huge happening. Everybody is wearing something orange.
We had a special morning at our club, where I was sipping a wee dram of Orange Bitter (orange-flavoured and coloured ginever) at ten to twelve in the morning (!!!???) while eating an orange coloured cake. At eleven o'clock AM I could not walk along the street to get to the club for the large crowds. I had to take a diversion round some quieter side streets.
JD.

[Penny Tray]

O Death, had’st thou but spar’d his life,
Whom we this day lament!
We freely wad exchanged the wife,
And a’ been weel content.

*EPIGRAM ON SAID OCCASION