Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
Critique • Quotes
Title page, 1786 Kilmarnock editionAlso known as
The Kilmarnock volume
First publication
1786
Literature form
Poems
Writing language
Scots dialect
Author's country
Scotland
Length
36 poems
Notable lines
'Twas in that place o' Scotland's isle,
That bears the name o' auld King Coil,
Upon a bonnie day in June,
When wearin' thro' the afternoon,
Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame,
Forgather'd ance upon a time.
— First lines, "The Twa Dogs. A Tale."
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That's sweetly played in tune.
— First lines, "A Red, Red Rose"
Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
— First lines, "To a Mouse"
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
— "To a Mouse"
A fig for those by law protected!
Liberty's a glorious feast,
Courts for cowards were erected,
Churches built to please the priest!
— "Love and Liberty"
O never, never Scotia's realm desert;
But still the patriot, and the patriot-bard
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!
— Last lines, "The Cotter's Saturday Night"
Critique • Quotes
