Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACCADEDEFGHG IHJKLLLMLMBELE BBFLLNOAPAACBQ RRASTALMLMBBLB EELRMLLLLLUEVE VVAWWALFLFNAEA FFLCCLXAXAYMRR ZZLVVLLBLBLCLC QQMLLMQLQLEIHR MRAZZA2LALAZBB2B AABBBBC2LC2LBLBL

WHILE winds frae aff Ben Lomond blawA
An' bar the doors wi' driving snawB
An' hing us owre the ingleA
I set me down to pass the timeC
An' spin a verse or twa o' rhymeC
In hamely westlin jingleA
While frosty winds blaw in the driftD
Ben to the chimla lugE
I grudge a wee the great folk's giftD
That live sae bien an' snugE
I tent less and want lessF
Their roomy fire sideG
But hanker and cankerH
To see their cursed prideG
-
-
It's hardly in a body's pow'rI
To keep at times frae being sourH
To see how things are shar'dJ
How best o' chiels are whiles in wantK
While coofs on countless thousands rantL
And ken na how to wair'tL
But Davie lad ne'er fash your headL
Tho' we hae little gearM
We're fit to win our daily breadL
As lang's we're hale and fierM
Mair spier na nor fear naB
Auld age ne'er mind a fegE
The last o't the warst o'tL
Is only but to begE
-
-
To lie in kilns and barns at e'enB
When banes are craz'd and bluid is thinB
Is doubtless great distressF
Yet then content could make us blestL
Ev'n then sometimes we'd snatch a tasteL
Of truest happinessN
The honest heart that's free frae a'O
Intended fraud or guileA
However Fortune kick the ba'P
Has aye some cause to smileA
An' mind still you'll find stillA
A comfort this nae sma'C
Nae mair then we'll care thenB
Nae farther can we fa'Q
-
-
What tho' like commoners of airR
We wander out we know not whereR
But either house or hal'A
Yet nature's charms the hills and woodsS
The sweeping vales and foaming floodsT
Are free alike to allA
In days when daisies deck the groundL
And blackbirds whistle clearM
With honest joy our hearts will boundL
To see the coming yearM
On braes when we please thenB
We'll sit an' sowth a tuneB
Syne rhyme till't we'll time till'tL
An' sing't when we hae doneB
-
-
It's no in titles nor in rankE
It's no in wealth like Lon'on bankE
To purchase peace and restL
It's no in makin' muckle mairR
It's no in books it's no in learM
To make us truly blestL
If happiness hae not her seatL
An' centre in the breastL
We may be wise or rich or greatL
But never can be blestL
Nae treasures nor pleasuresU
Could make us happy langE
The heart aye's the part ayeV
That makes us right or wrangE
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-
Think ye that sic as you and IV
Wha drudge an' drive thro' wet and dryV
Wi' never ceasing toilA
Think ye are we less blest than theyW
Wha scarcely tent us in their wayW
As hardly worth their whileA
Alas how aft in haughty moodL
God's creatures they oppressF
Or else neglecting a' that's guidL
They riot in excessF
Baith careless and fearlessN
Of either heaven or hellA
Esteeming and deemingE
It's a' an idle taleA
-
-
Then let us cheerfu' acquiesceF
Nor make our scanty pleasures lessF
By pining at our stateL
And even should misfortunes comeC
I here wha sit hae met wi' someC
An's thankfu' for them yetL
They gie the wit of age to youthX
They let us ken oursel'A
They make us see the naked truthX
The real guid and illA
Tho' losses an' crossesY
Be lessons right severeM
There's wit there ye'll get thereR
Ye'll find nae other whereR
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But tent me Davie ace o' heartsZ
To say aught less wad wrang the cartesZ
And flatt'ry I detestL
This life has joys for you and IV
An' joys that riches ne'er could buyV
An' joys the very bestL
There's a' the pleasures o' the heartL
The lover an' the frien'B
Ye hae your Meg your dearest partL
And I my darling JeanB
It warms me it charms meL
To mention but her nameC
It heats me it beets meL
An' sets me a' on flameC
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O all ye Pow'rs who rule aboveQ
O Thou whose very self art loveQ
Thou know'st my words sincereM
The life blood streaming thro' my heartL
Or my more dear immortal partL
Is not more fondly dearM
When heart corroding care and griefQ
Deprive my soul of restL
Her dear idea brings reliefQ
And solace to my breastL
Thou Being All seeingE
O hear my fervent pray'rI
Still take her and make herH
Thy most peculiar careR
-
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All hail ye tender feelings dearM
The smile of love the friendly tearR
The sympathetic glowA
Long since this world's thorny waysZ
Had number'd out my weary daysZ
Had it not been for youA2
Fate still has blest me with a friendL
In ev'ry care and illA
And oft a more endearing bandL
A tie more tender stillA
It lightens it brightensZ
The tenebrific sceneB
To meet with and greet withB2
My Davie or my JeanB
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O how that name inspires my styleA
The words come skelpin rank an' fileA
Amaist before I kenB
The ready measure rins as fineB
As Phoebus an' the famous NineB
Were glowrin owre my penB
My spaviet Pegasus will limpC2
Till ance he's fairly hetL
And then he'll hilch and stilt an' jimpC2
And rin an unco fitL
But least then the beast thenB
Should rue this hasty rideL
I'll light now and dight nowB
His sweaty wizen'd hideL

Robert Burns



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