Far 'yont amang the years to be When a' we think, an' a' we see, An' a' we luve, 's been dung ajee By time's rouch shouther, An' what was richt and wrang for me Lies mangled throu'ther, It's possible -- it's hardly mair -- That some ane, ripin' after lear -- Some auld professor or young heir, If still there's either -- May find an' read me, an' be sair Perplexed, puir brither! @3'What tongue does your auld bookie speak?'@1 He'll spier; an' I, his mou to steik: @3'No bein' fit to write in Greek, I wrote in Lallan, Dear to my heart as the peat reek, Auld as Tantallon.@1 @3'Few spak it than, an' noo there's nane. My puir auld sangs lie a' their lane, Their sense, that aince was braw an plain, Tint a 'thegether, Like runes upon a standin' stane Amang the heather@1. @3'But think not you the brae to speel; You, tae, maun chow the bitter peel; For a' your lear, for a' your skeel, Ye're nane sae lucky; An' things are mebbe waur than weel For you, my buckie@1. @3'The hale concern (baith hens an' eggs, Baith books an' writers, stars an' clegs) Noo stachers upon lowsent legs An' wears awa'; The tack o' mankind, near the dregs, Rins unco' law@1. @3'Your book, that in some braw new tongue, Ye wrote or prentit, preached or sung, Will still be just a bairn, an' young In fame an' years, Whan the hale planet's guts are dung About your ears;@1 @3'An' you, sair gruppin' to a spar Or whammled wi' some bleezin' star, Cryin' to ken whaur deil ye are, Hame, France, or Flanders -- Whang sindry like a railway car An' flie in danders.'@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE MARRIAGE OF A BEAUTEOUS YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN WITH AN ANCIENT MAN by FRANCIS BEAUMONT DREAMS: ON THE HUNTING GROUND by DANIEL CHAUNCEY BREWER A PENITENT'S PLEA by ALICE CARY HANDS: THE GARDENER by KATE M. CHIDESTER AN OLD MAN'S GIFT TO A FAIR LADY by CHARLES COTTON |