Epistle To A Young Friend Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAACDCD AEAEAAAA FAGAHAIA JKJKALAL MEMEEEEE NAOAEPEP MKMKQARA SKSKTTTT KKKKUAUA PAPAEKEK VPVP KAK| I lang hae thought my youthfu' friend | A |
| A something to have sent you | B |
| Tho' it should serve nae ither end | A |
| Than just a kind momento | A |
| But how the subject theme may gang | C |
| Let time and change determine | D |
| Perhaps it may turn out a sang | C |
| Perhaps turn out a sermon | D |
| - | |
| Ye'll try the world soon my lad | A |
| And Andrew dear believe me | E |
| Ye'll find mankind an unco squad | A |
| And muckle they may grieve ye | E |
| For care and trouble set your thought | A |
| Ev'n when your end's attained | A |
| And a' your views may come to nought | A |
| Where ev'ry nerve is strained | A |
| - | |
| I'll no say men are villains a' | F |
| The real harden'd wicked | A |
| What hae nae check but human law | G |
| Are to a few restricked | A |
| But och mankind are unco weak | H |
| An' little to be trusted | A |
| If self the wavering balance shake | I |
| It's rarely right adjusted | A |
| - | |
| Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife | J |
| Their fate we shouldna censure | K |
| For still th'important end of life | J |
| They equally may answer | K |
| A man may hae in honest heart | A |
| Tho' poortith hourly stare him | L |
| A man may tak a neibor's part | A |
| Yet hae nae cash to spare him | L |
| - | |
| Aye free aff han' your story tell | M |
| When wi' a bosom crony | E |
| But still keep something to yoursel' | M |
| Ye scarcely tell to ony | E |
| Conceal yoursel' as weel's ye can | E |
| Frae critical dissection | E |
| But keek thro' ev'ry other man | E |
| Wi' sharpen'd sly inspection | E |
| - | |
| The sacred lowe o' well plac'd love | N |
| Luxuriantly indulge it | A |
| But never tempt th' illicit rove | O |
| Tho' naething should divulge it | A |
| I waive the quantum o' the sin | E |
| The hazard of concealing | P |
| But och it hardens a' within | E |
| And petrifies the feeling | P |
| - | |
| To catch dame Fortune's golden smile | M |
| Assiduous wait upon her | K |
| And gather gear by ev'ry wile | M |
| That's justified by honour | K |
| Not for to hide it in a hedge | Q |
| Nor for a train attendant | A |
| But for the glorious privilege | R |
| Of being independent | A |
| - | |
| The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip | S |
| To haud the wretch in order | K |
| But where ye feel your honour grip | S |
| Let that aye be your border | K |
| Its slightest touches instant pause | T |
| Debar a' side pretences | T |
| And resolutely keep its laws | T |
| Uncaring consequences | T |
| - | |
| The great Creator to revere | K |
| Must sure become the creature | K |
| But still the preaching cant forbear | K |
| And ev'n the rigid feature | K |
| Yet ne'er with wits profane to range | U |
| Be complaisance extended | A |
| An atheist laugh's a poor exchange | U |
| For Deity offended | A |
| - | |
| When ranting round in pleasure's ring | P |
| Religion may be blinded | A |
| Or if she gie a random sting | P |
| It may be little minded | A |
| But when on life we're tempest driv'n | E |
| A conscience but a canker | K |
| A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n | E |
| Is sure a noble anchor | K |
| - | |
| Adieu dear amiable youth | V |
| Your heart can ne'er be wanting | P |
| May prudence fortitude and truth | V |
| Erect your brow undaunting | P |
| In ploughman phrase God send you speed '' | - |
| Still daily to grow wiser | K |
| And may ye better reck the rede | A |
| Than ever did th' adviser | K |
Robert Burns
(1)
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