Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50) (149 page)
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Authors: Homer,William Shakespeare
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Ye banks and braes o’ bonie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu’ o’ care!
Thou’ll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro’ the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o’ departed joys,
Departed never to return.
Aft I rov’d by Bonie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine:
And ilka bird sang o’ its luve,
And fondly sae did I o’ mine.
Wi’ lightsome heart I pu’d a rose,
Fu’ sweet upon its thorny tree!
Any my fause luver staw my rose,
But ah! he left the thorn wi’ me.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
The castle o’ Montgomery,
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!
There Simmer first unfald her robes,
And there the langest tarry:
For there I took the last Fareweel
O’ my sweet Highland Mary.
How sweetly bloom’d the gay, green birk,
How rich the hawthorn’s blossom;
As underneath their fragrant shade,
I clasp’d her to my bosom!
The golden Hours, on angel wings,
Flew o’er me and my Dearie;
For dear to me as light and life
Was my sweet Highland Mary.
Wi’ mony a vow, and lock’d embrace,
Our parting was fu’ tender;
And pledging aft to meet again,
We tore oursels asunder:
But Oh, fell Death’s untimely frost,
That nipt my Flower sae early!
Now green’s the sod, and cauld’s the clay,
That wraps my Highland Mary!
O pale, pale now, those rosy lips
I aft hae kiss’d sae fondly!
And clos’d for ay, the sparkling glance,
That dwalt on me sae kindly!
And mouldering now in silent dust,
That heart that lo’ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom’s core
Shall live my Highland Mary.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
O, once I lov’d a bonnie lass,
Aye, and I love her still;
And whilst that virtue warms my breast
I’ll love my handsome Nell.
As bonnie lasses I hae seen,
And mony full as braw,
But for a modest gracefu’ mien
The like I never saw.
A bonnie lass, I will confess,
Is pleasant to the ee,
But without some letter qualities
She’s no a lass for me.
But Nellie’s looks are blithe and sweet,
And what is best of a’
Her reputation is complete,
And fair without a flaw.
She dresses aye sae clean and neat,
Both decent and genteel;
And then there’s something in her gait
Gars ony dress look weel.
A gaudy dress and gentle air
May slightly touch the heart,
But it’s innocence and modesty
That polishes the dart.
’Tis this in Nelly pleases me,
’Tis this enchants my soul
For absolutely in my breast
She reigns without control.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonny brow was brent;
But now your brow is bled, John,
Your locks are like the straw,
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson my jo!
John Anderson my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither
And monie a cantie day, John,
We’ve had wi’ ane anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we’ll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson my jo!
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Is there for honesty poverty
That hings his head, an’ a’ that;
The coward slave - we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Our toils obscure an’ a’ that,
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that?
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man’s a man for a’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their tinsel show, an’ a’ that,
The honest man, tho’ e’er sae poor,
Is king o’ men for a’ that.
Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord,
Wha struts, an’ stares, an’ a’ that;
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word,
He’s but a coof for a’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
His ribband, star, an’ a’ that,
The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that.
A price can mak a belted knight,
A marquise, duke, an’ a’ that;
But an honest man’s aboon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their dignities an’ a’ that,
The pith o’ sense, an’ pride o’ worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a’ that,)
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an’ a’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
That man to man, the world o’er,
Shall brithers be for a’ that.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee
Wi’ murd’ring pattle!
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion,
Has broken nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
What makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An’ fellow-mortal!
I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
‘S a sma’ request;
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
An’ never miss’t!
Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
O’ foggage green!
An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin,
Baith snell an’ keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An’ weary winter comin fast,
An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell -
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro’ thy cell.
That wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter’s sleety dribble,
An’ cranreuch cauld!
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
Still thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me;
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects dreaer!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766–1845)
I’M wearing awa’, Jean,
Like snaw when its thaw, Jean,
I’m wearing awa’
To the land o’ the leal.
There’s nae sorrow there, Jean,
5
There’s neither cauld nor care, Jean,
The day is aye fair
In the land o’ the leal.
Ye were aye leal and true, Jean,
Your task’s ended noo, Jean,
10
And I’ll welcome you
To the land o’ the leal.
Our bonnie bairn’s there, Jean,
She was baith guid and fair, Jean;
O we grudged her right sair
15
To the land o’ the leal!
Then dry that tearfu’ e’e, Jean,
My soul langs to be free, Jean,
And angels wait on me
To the land o’ the leal.
20
Now fare ye weel, my ain Jean,
This warld’s care is vain, Jean;
We’ll meet and aye be fain
In the land o’ the leal.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
He’s Ower the Hills That I Lo’e Weel
Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766–1845)
HE’S ower the hills that I lo’e weel,
He’s ower the hills we daurna name;
He’s ower the hills ayont Dunblane,
Wha soon will get his welcome hame.
My faither’s gane to fecht for him,
5
My brithers winna bide at hame;
My mither greets and prays for them,
And, ‘deed, she thinks they’re no to blame.
The Whigs may scoff, the Whigs may jeer,
But ah! that love maun be sincere
10
Which still keeps true whate’er betide,
And for his sake leaves a’ beside.
His right these hills, his right these plains;
O’er Hieland hearts secure he reigns;
What lads e’er did our lads will do;
15
Were I a laddie I’d follow him too.
Sae noble a look, sae princely an air,
Sae gallant and bold, sae young and sae fair;
O did ye but see him ye’d do as we’ve done;
Hear him but once, to his standard you’ll run.
20
He’s ower the hills that I lo’e weel;
He’s ower the hills we daurna name;
He’s ower the hills ayont Dunblane,
Wha soon will get his welcome hame.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order