Epistle To J. Rankine, Enclosing Some Poems. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAABAB BBBCBD EEEFEF FFFGAG HHHIHI FFFJFJ AAAAAA KLMHLH NOOGNM PPPHPQ GGGMRA STTBTB HHHUVU| O rough rude ready witted Rankine | A |
| The wale o' cocks for fun an' drinkin' | A |
| There's monie godly folks are thinkin' | A |
| Your dreams an' tricks | B |
| Will send you Korah like a sinkin' | A |
| Straught to auld Nick's | B |
| - | |
| Ye hae sae monie cracks an' cants | B |
| And in your wicked dru'ken rants | B |
| Ye mak a devil o' the saunts | B |
| An' fill them fou | C |
| And then their failings flaws an' wants | B |
| Are a' seen through | D |
| - | |
| Hypocrisy in mercy spare it | E |
| That holy robe O dinna tear it | E |
| Spare't for their sakes wha aften wear it | E |
| The lads in black | F |
| But your curst wit when it comes near it | E |
| Rives't aff their back | F |
| - | |
| Think wicked sinner wha ye're skaithing | F |
| It's just the blue gown badge and claithing | F |
| O' saunts tak that ye lea'e them naething | F |
| To ken them by | G |
| Frae ony unregenerate heathen | A |
| Like you or I | G |
| - | |
| I've sent you here some rhyming ware | H |
| A' that I bargain'd for an' mair | H |
| Sae when you hae an hour to spare | H |
| I will expect | I |
| Yon sang ye'll sen't wi cannie care | H |
| And no neglect | I |
| - | |
| Tho' faith sma' heart hae I to sing | F |
| My muse dow scarcely spread her wing | F |
| I've play'd mysel' a bonnie spring | F |
| An' danc'd my fill | J |
| I'd better gaen an' sair't the king | F |
| At Bunker's Hill | J |
| - | |
| 'Twas ae night lately in my fun | A |
| I gaed a roving wi' the gun | A |
| An' brought a paitrick to the grun' | A |
| A bonnie hen | A |
| And as the twilight was begun | A |
| Thought nane wad ken | A |
| - | |
| The poor wee thing was little hurt | K |
| I straikit it a wee for sport | L |
| Ne'er thinkin' they wad fash me for't | M |
| But deil ma care | H |
| Somebody tells the poacher court | L |
| The hale affair | H |
| - | |
| Some auld us'd hands had taen a note | N |
| That sic a hen had got a shot | O |
| I was suspected for the plot | O |
| I scorn'd to lie | G |
| So gat the whissle o' my groat | N |
| An' pay't the fee | M |
| - | |
| But by my gun o' guns the wale | P |
| An' by my pouther an' my hail | P |
| An' by my hen an' by her tail | P |
| I vow an' swear | H |
| The game shall pay o'er moor an' dale | P |
| For this niest year | Q |
| - | |
| As soon's the clockin time is by | G |
| An' the wee pouts begun to cry | G |
| L d I'se hae sportin' by an' by | G |
| For my gowd guinea | M |
| Tho' I should herd the buckskin kye | R |
| For't in Virginia | A |
| - | |
| Trowth they had muckle for to blame | S |
| 'Twas neither broken wing nor limb | T |
| But twa three draps about the wame | T |
| Scarce thro' the feathers | B |
| An' baith a yellow George to claim | T |
| An' thole their blethers | B |
| - | |
| It pits me ay as mad's a hare | H |
| So I can rhyme nor write nae mair | H |
| But pennyworths again is fair | H |
| When time's expedient | U |
| Meanwhile I am respected Sir | V |
| Your most obedient | U |
Robert Burns
(1)
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