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").

Song—out Over The Forth

OUT over the Forth, I look to the North;But what is the north and its Highlands to me?The south nor the east gie ease to my breast,The far foreign..

© Robert Burns

Song—blythe Hae I Been On Yon Hill

BLYTHE hae I been on yon hill,As the lambs before me;Careless ilka thought and free,As the breeze flew o'er me;Now nae langer sport and play,Mirth or..

© Robert Burns

Song—kellyburn Braes

THERE lived a carl in Kellyburn Braes,Hey, and the rue grows bonie wi' thyme;And he had a wife was the plague of his days,And the thyme it is..

© Robert Burns

Song—phillis The Fair

WHILE larks, with little wing,Fann'd the pure air,Tasting the breathing Spring,Forth I did fare:Gay the sun's golden eyePeep'd o'er the mountains..

© Robert Burns

Epistle To John Maxwell, Esq., Of Terraughty

HEALTH to the Maxwell's veteran Chief!Health, aye unsour'd by care or grief:Inspir'd, I turn'd Fate's sibyl leaf,This natal morn,I see thy life is..

© Robert Burns

Ballad On Mr. Heron's Election—no. 2

FY, let us a' to Kirkcudbright,For there will be bickerin' there;For Murray's light horse are to muster,And O how the heroes will swear!And there..

© Robert Burns

Fickle Fortune: A Fragment

THOUGH fickle Fortune has deceived me,She pormis'd fair and perform'd but ill;Of mistress, friends, and wealth bereav'd me,Yet I bear a heart shall..

© Robert Burns

Inscription For An Alter Of Independence

THOU of an independent mind,With soul resolv'd, with soul resign'd;Prepar'd Power's proudest frown to brave,Who wilt not be, nor have a slave;Virtue..

© Robert Burns

Sylvander To Clarinda

WHEN dear Clarinda, 1 matchless fair,First struck Sylvander's raptur'd view,He gaz'd, he listened to despair,Alas! 'twas all he dared to do.Love..

© Robert Burns

Epigram On Dr. Babington's Looks

THAT there is a falsehood in his looks,I must and will deny:They tell their Master is a knave,And sure they do not lie.

© Robert Burns

The Calf

RIGHT, sir! your text I'll prove it true,Tho' heretics may laugh;For instance, there's yourself just now,God knows, an unco calf.And should some..

© Robert Burns

Epitaph On A Henpecked Squire

AS father Adam first was fool'd,(A case that's still too common,)Here lies man a woman ruled,The devil ruled the woman.

© Robert Burns

Thou Gloomy December

ANCE mair I hail thee, thou gloomy December!Ance mair I hail thee wi' sorrow and care;Sad was the parting thou makes me remember—Parting wi' Nancy..

© Robert Burns

Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine

I AM a keeper of the lawIn some sma' points, altho' not a';Some people tell me gin I fa',Ae way or ither,The breaking of ae point, tho' sma',Breaks..

© Robert Burns

The Bonie Lass Of Albany

MY 1 heart is wae, and unco wae,To think upon the raging sea,That roars between her gardens greenAn' the bonie Lass of Albany.This lovely maid's of..

© Robert Burns

Lines To Mr. John Kennedy

FAREWELL, dear friend! may guid luck hit you,And 'mang her favourites admit you:If e'er Detraction shore to smit you,May nane believe him,And ony..

© Robert Burns

Song—i Hae Been At Crookieden

I HAE been at Crookieden,My bonie laddie, Highland laddie,Viewing Willie and his men,My bonie laddie, Highland laddie.There our foes that burnt and..

© Robert Burns

Pegasus At Wanlockhead

WITH Pegasus upon a day,Apollo, weary flying,Through frosty hills the journey lay,On foot the way was plying.Poor slipshod giddy PegasusWas but a..

© Robert Burns

The Dean Of Faculty: A New Ballad

DIRE was the hate at old Harlaw,That Scot to Scot did carry;And dire the discord Langside sawFor beauteous, hapless Mary:But Scot to Scot ne'er met..

© Robert Burns

The Kirk Of Scotland's Alarm: A Ballad

ORTHODOX! orthodox, who believe in John Knox,Let me sound an alarm to your conscience:A heretic blast has been blown in the West,That what is no..

© Robert Burns

Epigram On Miss Davies

ASK why God made the gem so small?And why so huge the granite?—Because God meant mankind should setThat higher value on it.

© Robert Burns

The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata

RecitativoWHEN lyart leaves bestrow the yird,Or wavering like the bauckie-bird,Bedim cauld Boreas' blast;When hailstanes drive wi' bitter skyte,And..

© Robert Burns

On Tam The Chapman

AS Tam the chapman on a day,Wi'Death forgather'd by the way,Weel pleas'd, he greets a wight so famous,And Death was nae less pleas'd wi' Thomas,Wha..

© Robert Burns

Tam Samson's Elegy

HAS auld Kilmarnock seen the deil?Or great Mackinlay 1 thrawn his heel?Or Robertson 2 again grown weel,To preach an' read?"Na' waur than a'! cries..

© Robert Burns

To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J——n, On Her Principles Of Liberty And Eqality

HOW, Liberty! girl, can it be by thee nam'd?Equality too! hussey, art not asham'd?Free and Equal indeed, while mankind thou enchainest,And over their..

© Robert Burns