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").
Remorseful Apology
THE FRIEND whom, wild from Wisdom's way,The fumes of wine infuriate send,(Not moony madness more astray)Who but deplores that hapless friend?Mine was..
© Robert Burns
A Grace After Meat
LORD, we thank, and thee adore,For temporal gifts we little merit;At present we will ask no more—Let William Hislop give the spirit.
© Robert Burns
A Tippling Ballad—when Princes And Prelates, Etc.
WHEN Princes and Prelates,And hot-headed zealots,A' Europe had set in a low, a low,The poor man lies down,Nor envies a crown,And comforts himself as..
© Robert Burns
On The Seas And Far Away
HOW can my poor heart be glad,When absent from my sailor lad;How can I the thought forego—He's on the seas to meet the foe?Let me wander, let me..
© Robert Burns
Impromptu On Mrs. Riddell's Birthday
OLD Winter, with his frosty beard,Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred:"What have I done of all the year,To bear this hated doom severe?My..
© Robert Burns
Song—o Were My Love You Lilac Fair
O WERE my love yon Lilac fair,Wi' purple blossoms to the Spring,And I, a bird to shelter there,When wearied on my little wing!How I wad mourn when it..
© Robert Burns
Song—i'M O'Er Young To Marry Yet
Chorus.—I'm o'er young, I'm o'er young,I'm o'er young to marry yet;I'm o'er young, 'twad be a sinTo tak me frae my mammy yet.I AM my mammny's ae..
© Robert Burns
The Inventory
SIR, as your mandate did request,I send you here a faithfu' list,O' gudes an' gear, an' a' my graith,To which I'm clear to gi'e my aith.Imprimis..
© Robert Burns
Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
O YE whose cheek the tear of pity stains,Draw near with pious rev'rence, and attend!Here lie the loving husband's dear remains,The tender father, and..
© Robert Burns
Epigram On A Country Laird (Cardoness)
BLESS Jesus Christ, O Cardonessp,With grateful, lifted eyes,Who taught that not the soul alone,But body too shall rise;For had He said "the soul..
© Robert Burns
Song—on A Bank Of Flowers
ON a bank of flowers, in a summer day,For summer lightly drest,The youthful, blooming Nelly lay,With love and sleep opprest;When Willie, wand'ring..
© Robert Burns
Jamie, Come Try Me
Chorus.—Jamie, come try me,Jamie, come try me,If thou would win my love,Jamie, come try me.IF thou should ask my love,Could I deny thee?If thou would..
© Robert Burns
Epitaph On A Lap-Dog
IN wood and wild, ye warbling throng,Your heavy loss deplore;Now, half extinct your powers of song,Sweet Echo is no more.Ye jarring, screeching..
© Robert Burns
The Lament
O THOU pale orb that silent shinesWhile care-untroubled mortals sleep!Thou seest a wretch who inly pines.And wanders here to wail and weep!With woe I..
© Robert Burns
Epistle To The Rev. John M'Math
WHILE at the stook the shearers cow'rTo shun the bitter blaudin' show'r,Or in gulravage rinnin scowrTo pass the time,To you I dedicate the hourIn..
© Robert Burns
Lines On The Author's Death
HE who of Rankine sang, lies stiff and dead,And a green grassy hillock hides his head;Alas! alas! a devilish change indeed.
© Robert Burns
The Laddie's Dear Sel'
THERE'S a youth in this city, it were a great pityThat he from our lassies should wander awa';For he's bonie and braw, weel-favor'd witha',An' his..
© Robert Burns
Yon Wild Mossy Mountains
YON wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide,That nurse in their bosom the youth o' the Clyde,Where the grouse lead their coveys thro' the heather to..
© Robert Burns
Epitaph For William Nicol, High School, Edinburgh
YE maggots, feed on Nicol's brain,For few sic feasts you've gotten;And fix your claws in Nicol's heart,For deil a bit o't's rotten.
© Robert Burns
Lovely Polly Stewart
Chorus.—O lovely Polly Stewart,O charming Polly Stewart,There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May,That's half so fair as thou art!THE FLOWER it..
© Robert Burns
The Captain's Lady
Chorus.—O mount and go, mount and make you ready,O mount and go, and be the Captain's lady.WHEN the drums do beat, and the cannons rattle,Thou shalt..
© Robert Burns
Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787
AFAR 1 the illustrious Exile roams,Whom kingdoms on this day should hail;An inmate in the casual shed,On transient pity's bounty fed,Haunted by busy..
© Robert Burns
The Whistle: A Ballad
I SING of a Whistle, a Whistle of worth,I sing of a Whistle, the pride of the North.Was brought to the court of our good Scottish King,And long with..
© Robert Burns
My Girl She's Airy: A Fragment
MY girl she's airy, she's buxom and gay;Her breath is as sweet as the blossoms in May;A touch of her lips it ravishes quite:She's always good..
© Robert Burns
A Grace After Dinner
O THOU, in whom we live and move—Who made the sea and shore;Thy goodness constantly we prove,And grateful would adore;And, if it please Thee, Power..
© Robert Burns