The Hairst O' Rettie Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDDCD CECEFDCD GHIHCJDJ KCLCDMDM CKKKDJMD CJNJODPD DDDDQDDM DDCDJJJJ CDCCDDDD| I hae seen the hairst o' Rettie lads | A |
| And twa three aff the throne | B |
| I've heard o sax and seven weeks | C |
| The hairsters girn and groan | B |
| But wi' a covie Willie Rae | D |
| A monthie an' a day | D |
| Sends a' the jolly hairsters | C |
| Singin' blithely doon the brae | D |
| - | |
| In a monthie an' a day my lads | C |
| The like was never seen | E |
| It beats to sticks the fastest strips | C |
| O' Vickers' best machine | E |
| The Speedwell she taks up the rear | F |
| The Victory clears the way | D |
| And twenty acres daily yields | C |
| Laid doon tae Willie Rae | D |
| - | |
| He drives them roond and roond the field | G |
| At sic an awfu' rate | H |
| Yet guides them gently oot and in | I |
| At mony's a kittle gate | H |
| And wiles them gently ow'r the steens | C |
| And mony a hidden hole | J |
| And he'll come by nae mishanter | D |
| If ye leave him wi' a pole | J |
| - | |
| O he sharps their teeth tae gar them bite | K |
| He taps them on the jaws | C |
| And if he sees them dowie like | L |
| He'll brawly ken the cause | C |
| A boltie here or a pinnie there | D |
| Tae keep them aye in tune | M |
| He'll quickly stop their wild career | D |
| And bring the clishack doon | M |
| - | |
| O he whittles aff the corners | C |
| And makes crookit bitties straucht | K |
| He likes to see that man and beast | K |
| Are equal in a draucht | K |
| An' a' the corners neat an' square | D |
| And nae a shafe agley | J |
| And he'll coont wi' ony dominie | M |
| Frae the Deveron tae the Spey | D |
| - | |
| Noo he's nae made up wi' mony words | C |
| Or kent tae puff and lee | J |
| But just as keen a little chap | N |
| As ony you will see | J |
| And if you're in search o hairvest work | O |
| Upon a market day | D |
| Take my advice be there in time | P |
| And look for Willie Rae | D |
| - | |
| Noo he hae got it in aboot | D |
| An' a wer things be ticht | D |
| We'll gaither roond the festal board | D |
| Tae spend a joyfae nicht | D |
| Wi' Scottish sangs and mutton broth | Q |
| Tae charm our cares away | D |
| We'll drink success tae Rettie | D |
| And my bandster Annie Maclean | M |
| - | |
| Noo afore I end my hamely screed | D |
| I canna weel forget | D |
| The gentle dames that guards the hoose | C |
| And keeps the folk in maet | D |
| Lang may they bile the kail | J |
| And stir the porridge weel | J |
| An may never need or want for nail | J |
| Tae keep the timmer hale | J |
| - | |
| Noo here's tae a' ye Rettie blades | C |
| A ringin' cheer Hurra | D |
| A better lot o' workin' chaps | C |
| A gaffer never saw | C |
| They're aye sae willin' for tae pairt | D |
| And eager for the fray | D |
| It was them that made the boatie row | D |
| That was steer'd by Willie Rae | D |
Robert Burns
(1)
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