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

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBDDBEFEFGHIH A IIJKLLLMLMCFLF A CCGLLNOBPBBDCQ Q RRBSTBLMLMCCLC L FFLRMLLLLLUFOF Q QQBOOBLGLGNBFB Q GGLDDLVBVBWMRR Q XXLQQLLCLCLDLD X QQMLLMQLQLFYIR X MRBXXZLBLBXCA2C X BBCCCCB2LB2LCLCL

IA
-
While winds frae aff Ben Lomond blawB
And bar the doors wi' driving snawC
And hing us owre the ingleB
I set me down to pass the timeD
And spin a verse or twa o' rhymeD
In hamely westlin jingleB
While frosty winds blaw in the driftE
Ben to the chimla lugF
I grudge a wee the great folks' giftE
That live sae bien an' snugF
I tent less and want lessG
Their roomy fire sideH
But hanker and cankerI
To see their cursed prideH
-
IIA
-
It's hardly in a body's powerI
To keep at times frae being sourI
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
Muir spier na nor fear naC
Auld age ne'er mind a fegF
The last o't the warst o'tL
Is only but to begF
-
IIIA
-
To lie in kilns and barns at e'enC
When banes are craz'd and bluid is thinC
Is doubtless great distressG
Yet then content could make us blestL
Ev'n then sometimes we'd snatch a tasteL
O' truest happinessN
The honest heart that's free frae a'O
Intended fraud or guileB
However Fortune kick the ba'P
Has ay some cause to smileB
And mind still you'll find stillB
A comfort this nae sma'D
Nae mair then we'll care thenC
Nae farther we can fa'Q
-
IVQ
-
What tho' like commoners of airR
We wander out we know not whereR
But either house or hallB
Yet nature's charms the hills and woodsS
The sweeping vales and foaming floodsT
Are free alike to allB
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 thenC
We'll sit and sowth a tuneC
Syne rhyme till't we'll time till'tL
And sing't when we hae doneC
-
VL
-
It's no in titles nor in rankF
It's no in wealth like Lon'on bankF
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
And 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 langF
The heart ay's the part ayO
That makes us right or wrangF
-
VIQ
-
Think ye that sic as you and IQ
Wha drudge and drive thro' wet an' dryQ
Wi' never ceasing toilB
Think ye are we less blest than theyO
Wha scarcely tent us in their wayO
As hardly worth their whileB
Alas how aft in haughty moodL
God's creatures they oppressG
Or else neglecting a' that's guidL
They riot in excessG
Baith careless and fearlessN
Of either heaven or hellB
Esteeming and deemingF
It's a' an idle taleB
-
VIIQ
-
Then let us cheerfu' acquiesceG
Nor make one scanty pleasures lessG
By pining at our stateL
And even should misfortunes comeD
I here wha sit hae met wi' someD
An's thankfu' for them yetL
They gie the wit of age to youthV
They let us ken oursel'B
They make us see the naked truthV
The real guid and illB
Tho' losses and crossesW
Be lessons right severeM
There's wit there ye'll get thereR
Ye'll find nae other whereR
-
VIIIQ
-
But tent me Davie ace o' heartsX
To say aught less wad wrang the cartesX
And flatt'ry I detestL
This life has joys for you and IQ
And joys that riches ne'er could buyQ
And joys the very bestL
There's a' the pleasures o' the heartL
The lover an' the frien'C
Ye hae your Meg your dearest partL
And I my darling JeanC
It warms me it charms meL
To mention but her nameD
It heats me it beets meL
And sets me a' on flameD
-
IXX
-
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 seeingF
O hear my fervent pray'rY
Still take her and make herI
Thy most peculiar careR
-
XX
-
All hail ye tender feelings dearM
The smile of love the friendly tearR
The sympathetic glowB
Long since this world's thorny waysX
Had number'd out my weary daysX
Had it not been for youZ
Fate still has blest me with a friendL
In every care and illB
And oft a more endearing handL
A tie more tender stillB
It lightens it brightensX
The tenebrific sceneC
To meet with and greet withA2
My Davie or my JeanC
-
XIX
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O how that name inspires my styleB
The words come skelpin rank and fileB
Amaist before I kenC
The ready measure rins as fineC
As Phoebus and the famous NineC
Were glowrin owre my penC
My spaviet Pegasus will limpB2
'Till ance he's fairly hetL
And then he'll hilch and stilt and jimpB2
An' rin an unco fitL
But least then the beast thenC
Should rue this hasty rideL
I'll light now and dight nowC
His sweaty wizen'd hideL

Robert Burns



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