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—poortith Cauld And Restless Love
O POORTITH cauld, and restless love,Ye wrack my peace between ye;Yet poortith a' I could forgive,An 'twere na for my Jeanie.Chorus.—O why should Fate..
©  Robert Burns
Lines To John M'Murdo Of Drumlanrig
O COULD I give thee India's wealth,As I this trifle send;Because thy joy in both would beTo share them with a friend.But golden sands did never..
©  Robert Burns
Epistle On J. Lapraik
WHILE briers an' woodbines budding green,An' paitricks scraichin loud at e'en,An' morning poussie whiddin seen,Inspire my muse,This freedom, in an..
©  Robert Burns
Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
BELOW thir stanes lie Jamie's banes;O Death, it's my opinion,Thou ne'er took such a bleth'rin bitchInto thy dark dominion!
©  Robert Burns
Burlesque Lament Fo Wm. Creech's Absence
AULD chuckie Reekie's 1 sair distrest,Down droops her ance weel burnish'd crest,Nae joy her bonie buskit nestCan yield ava,Her darling bird that she..
©  Robert Burns
Song—the Dumfries Volunteers
DOES haughty Gaul invasion threat?Then let the louns beware, Sir;There's wooden walls upon our seas,And volunteers on shore, Sir:The Nith shall run..
©  Robert Burns
Mr. William Smellie: A Sketch
SHREWD Willie Smellie to Crochallan came;The old cock'd hat, the grey surtout the same;His bristling beard just rising in its might,'Twas four long..
©  Robert Burns
Song—the Charms Of Lovely Davies
O HOW shall I, unskilfu', tryThe poet's occupation?The tunefu' powers, in happy hours,That whisper inspiration;Even they maun dare an effort mairThan..
©  Robert Burns
Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner
AULD comrade dear, and brither sinner,How's a' the folk about Glenconner?How do you this blae eastlin wind,That's like to blaw a body blind?For me..
©  Robert Burns
Song—fragment—leezie Lindsay
WILL ye go to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay,Will ye go to the Hielands wi' me?Will ye go to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay,My pride and my darling to be.
©  Robert Burns
Song—gudewife, Count The Lawin
GANE is the day, and mirk's the night,But we'll ne'er stray for faut o' light;Gude ale and bratdy's stars and moon,And blue-red wine's the risin'..
©  Robert Burns
Epistle To Major Logan
HAIL, thairm-inspirin', rattlin' Willie!Tho' fortune's road be rough an' hillyTo every fiddling, rhyming billie,We never heed,But take it like the..
©  Robert Burns
Song—behold The Hour, Etc. (Second Version)
BEHOLD the hour, the boat arrive;Thou goest, the darling of my heart;Sever'd from thee, can I survive,But Fate has will'd and we must part.I'll often..
©  Robert Burns
Lines Of John M'Murdo, Esq.
BLEST be M'Murdo to his latest day!No envious cloud o'ercast his evening ray;No wrinkle, furrow'd by the hand of care,Nor ever sorrow add one silver..
©  Robert Burns
Epitaph On John Busby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
HERE lies John Bushby—honest man,Cheat him, Devil—if you can!
©  Robert Burns
The Libeller's Self-Reproof
RASH 1 mortal, and slanderous poet, thy nameShall no longer appear in the records of Fame;Dost not know that old Mansfield, who writes like the..
©  Robert Burns
Inscription On Mr. Syme's Crystal Goblet
THERE'S Death in the cup, so beware!Nay, more—there is danger in touching;But who can avoid the fell snare,The man and his wine's so bewitching!
©  Robert Burns
Elegy On The Year 1788
FOR lords or kings I dinna mourn,E'en let them die-for that they're born:But oh! prodigious to reflec'!A Towmont, sirs, is gane to wreck!O..
©  Robert Burns
Song—my Hoggie
WHAT will I do gin my Hoggie die?My joy, my pride, my Hoggie!My only beast, I had nae mae,And vow but I was vogie!The lee-lang night we watch'd the..
©  Robert Burns
Epigram To Miss Jean Scott
O HAD each Scot of ancient timesBeen, Jeanie Scott, as thou art;The bravest heart on English groundHad yielded like a coward.
©  Robert Burns
Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet
NO 1 sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay,"No storied urn nor animated bust;"This simple stone directs pale Scotia's way,To pour her sorrows o'er..
©  Robert Burns
Election Ballad For Westerha'
THE LADDIES by the banks o' NithWad trust his Grace 1 wi a', Jamie;But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King—Turn tail and rin awa'..
©  Robert Burns
Song—yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
MARK yonder pomp of costly fashionRound the wealthy, titled bride:But when compar'd with real passion,Poor is all that princely pride.Mark yonder..
©  Robert Burns
Sonnet To R. Graham, Esq., On Receiving A Favour
I CALL no Goddess to inspire my strains,A fabled Muse may suit a bard that feigns:Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns,And all the tribute of my..
©  Robert Burns
Epitaph For Mr. William Michie, Schoolmaster
HERE lie Willie Michie's banes;O Satan, when ye tak him,Gie him the schulin o' your weans,For clever deils he'll mak them!
©  Robert Burns