To J. Lapraik. (second Epistle.) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBCBC DEEFEF EEEGEG HHHHHH EEEEEE BBBHBH GGGIGI JJJKLK BBBMBM GGGGGG HHHNHN OOOEOE HHHHHH HHHHHH OOOEOE OOOHOH PQPHPH EEEGEG| April st | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| While new ca'd ky rowte at the stake | B |
| An' pownies reek in pleugh or braik | B |
| This hour on e'enin's edge I take | B |
| To own I'm debtor | C |
| To honest hearted auld Lapraik | B |
| For his kind letter | C |
| - | |
| Forjesket sair wi' weary legs | D |
| Rattlin' the corn out owre the rigs | E |
| Or dealing thro' amang the naigs | E |
| Their ten hours' bite | F |
| My awkart muse sair pleads and begs | E |
| I would na write | F |
| - | |
| The tapetless ramfeezl'd hizzie | E |
| She's saft at best and something lazy | E |
| Quo' she Ye ken we've been sae busy | E |
| This month' an' mair | G |
| That trouth my head is grown right dizzie | E |
| An' something sair | G |
| - | |
| Her dowff excuses pat me mad | H |
| Conscience says I ye thowless jad | H |
| I'll write an' that a hearty blaud | H |
| This vera night | H |
| So dinna ye affront your trade | H |
| But rhyme it right | H |
| - | |
| Shall bauld Lapraik the king o' hearts | E |
| Tho' mankind were a pack o' cartes | E |
| Roose you sae weel for your deserts | E |
| In terms sae friendly | E |
| Yet ye'll neglect to show your parts | E |
| An' thank him kindly | E |
| - | |
| Sae I gat paper in a blink | B |
| An' down gaed stumpie in the ink | B |
| Quoth I Before I sleep a wink | B |
| I vow I'll close it | H |
| An' if ye winna mak it clink | B |
| By Jove I'll prose it | H |
| - | |
| Sae I've begun to scrawl but whether | G |
| In rhyme or prose or baith thegither | G |
| Or some hotch potch that's rightly neither | G |
| Let time mak proof | I |
| But I shall scribble down some blether | G |
| Just clean aff loof | I |
| - | |
| My worthy friend ne'er grudge an' carp | J |
| Tho' fortune use you hard an' sharp | J |
| Come kittle up your moorland harp | J |
| Wi' gleesome touch | K |
| Ne'er mind how fortune waft an' warp | L |
| She's but a b tch | K |
| - | |
| She's gien me monie a jirt an' fleg | B |
| Sin' I could striddle owre a rig | B |
| But by the L d tho' I should beg | B |
| Wi' lyart pow | M |
| I'll laugh an' sing an' shake my leg | B |
| As lang's I dow | M |
| - | |
| Now comes the sax an' twentieth simmer | G |
| I've seen the bud upo' the timmer | G |
| Still persecuted by the limmer | G |
| Frae year to year | G |
| But yet despite the kittle kimmer | G |
| I Rob am here | G |
| - | |
| Do ye envy the city gent | H |
| Behint a kist to lie and sklent | H |
| Or purse proud big wi' cent per cent | H |
| And muckle wame | N |
| In some bit brugh to represent | H |
| A bailie's name | N |
| - | |
| Or is't the paughty feudal Thane | O |
| Wi' ruffl'd sark an' glancing cane | O |
| Wha thinks himsel nae sheep shank bane | O |
| But lordly stalks | E |
| While caps and bonnets aff are taen | O |
| As by he walks | E |
| - | |
| O Thou wha gies us each guid gift | H |
| Gie me o' wit an' sense a lift | H |
| Then turn me if Thou please adrift | H |
| Thro' Scotland wide | H |
| Wi' cits nor lairds I wadna shift | H |
| In a' their pride | H |
| - | |
| Were this the charter of our state | H |
| On pain' o' hell be rich an' great | H |
| Damnation then would be our fate | H |
| Beyond remead | H |
| But thanks to Heav'n that's no the gate | H |
| We learn our creed | H |
| - | |
| For thus the royal mandate ran | O |
| When first the human race began | O |
| The social friendly honest man | O |
| Whate'er he be | E |
| 'Tis he fulfils great Nature's plan | O |
| An' none but he | E |
| - | |
| O mandate glorious and divine | O |
| The followers o' the ragged Nine | O |
| Poor thoughtless devils yet may shine | O |
| In glorious light | H |
| While sordid sons o' Mammon's line | O |
| Are dark as night | H |
| - | |
| Tho' here they scrape an' squeeze an' growl | P |
| Their worthless nievfu' of a soul | Q |
| May in some future carcase howl | P |
| The forest's fright | H |
| Or in some day detesting owl | P |
| May shun the light | H |
| - | |
| Then may Lapraik and Burns arise | E |
| To reach their native kindred skies | E |
| And sing their pleasures hopes an' joys | E |
| In some mild sphere | G |
| Still closer knit in friendship's ties | E |
| Each passing year | G |
Robert Burns
(1)
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