Robert Burns Poems

Wandering Willie Revised Version Poem Robert Burns Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie, Here awa, there awa, haud awa hame; Come to my bosom, my ain only dearie, Tell me thou bring’st me my Willie the same. Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our parting, Fears for my Willie brought tears in my e’e, […]

Robert Burns – Lines On Fergusson, The Poet Poem Ill-fated genius! Heaven-taught Fergusson! What heart that feels and will not yield a tear, To think Life’s sun did set e’er well begun To shed its influence on thy bright career. O why should truest Worth and Genius pine Beneath the iron grasp of Want and […]

Robert Burns Song Handsome Nell Tune— I am a man unmarried. [Footnote 1: The first of my performances.—R. B.] Once I lov’d a bonie lass, Ay, and I love her still; And whilst that virtue warms my breast, I’ll love my handsome Nell. As bonie lasses I hae seen, And mony full as braw; But, […]

Ploughman’s Life, The Poetry As I was a-wand’ring ae morning in spring, I heard a young ploughman sae sweetly to sing; And as he was singin’, thir words he did say,— There’s nae life like the ploughman’s in the month o’ sweet May. The lav’rock in the morning she’ll rise frae her nest, And mount […]

Robert Burns Song The Banks Of The Devon Tune— Bhanarach dhonn a’ chruidh. How pleasant the banks of the clear winding Devon, With green spreading bushes and flow’rs blooming fair! But the boniest flow’r on the banks of the Devon Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr. Mild be the sun […]

On Capt. Lascelles Poem Robert Burns When Lascelles thought fit from this world to depart, Some friends warmly thought of embalming his heart; A bystander whispers— Pray don’t make so much o’t, The subject is poison, no reptile will touch it.

The Captive Ribband Song Tune— Robaidh dona gorach. Dear Myra, the captive ribband’s mine, ‘Twas all my faithful love could gain; And would you ask me to resign The sole reward that crowns my pain? Go, bid the hero who has run Thro’ fields of death to gather fame, Go, bid him lay his laurels […]

FIRST EPISTLE TO DAVIE, A BROTHER POET In the summer of 1781, Burns, while at work in the garden, repeated this Epistle to his brother Gilbert, who was much pleased with the performance, which he considered equal if not superior to some of Allan Ramsay’s Epistles, and said if it were printed he had no […]

The Cotter’s Saturday Night Poem Inscribed to R. Aiken, Esq., of Ayr. Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor Grandeur hear, with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the Poor. Gray. My lov’d, my honour’d, much respected friend! No mercenary bard his homage pays; With […]

Robert Burns Song Fairest Maid On Devon Banks Tune—’Rothiemurchie. Chorus—Fairest maid on Devon banks, Crystal Devon, winding Devon, Wilt thou lay that frown aside, And smile as thou wert wont to do? Full well thou know’st I love thee dear, Couldst thou to malice lend an ear! O did not Love exclaim: Forbear, Nor use […]