A wee bit o' Burns

[Penny Tray]

Heavy, heavy is the task,
Hopeless love declaring!
Trembling, I dow nocht but glow’r,
Sighing, dumb despairing!
If she winna ease the thaws
In my bosom swelling,
Underneath the grass-green sod,
Soon maun be my dwelling.

*BLYTHE HAE I BEEN ON YON HILL

[Penny Tray]

O, wae be to you, Men o’ State,
That brethren rouse in deadly hate!
As ye make monie a fond heart mourn,
Sae may it on your heads return!
Ye mind na ‘mid your cruel joys
The widow’s tears, the orphan’s cries
But soon may peace bring happy days,
And Willie hame to Logan braes!

*LOGAN BRAES

[Penny Tray]

Ask why God made the gem so small,
And why so huge the granite?
Because God meant mankind should set
That higher value on it.

*EPIGRAM ON MISS DAVIES

[Penny Tray]

Grant me, indulgent Heaven, that I may live,
To see miscreants feel the pains they give!
Deal Freedom’s sacred treasures free as air,
Till Slave and Despot be but things that were!

*LINES INSCRIBED IN A LADY’S POCKET ALMANAC

[Penny Tray]

O, gin my love were yon red rose,
That grows upon the castle wa’,
And I myself a drap o’ dew
Into her bonie breast to fa’,
O, there, beyond expression blest,
I’d feast on beauty, a’ the night,
Seal’d on her silk-saft faulds to rest,
Till fley’d awa’ by Phoebus’ light!

*O, WERE MY LOVE

[Penny Tray]

But hawks will rob the tender joys,
That bless the little lintwhite’s nest,
And frost will blight the fairest flowers,
And love will break the soundest rest.

*BONIE JEAN

[Penny Tray]

When wild War’s deadly blast was blawn,
And gentle Peace returning,
Wi’ monie a sweet babe fatherless
And monie a widow mourning.

*THE SOLDIER’S RETURN

[John Donnelly]

Hi PT,

So very apt today with your 'Soldier's Return.'
Your posts on 2 Nov., 'Thanksgiving for a National Victory' and 6 Nov., 'Logan Braes' are of the same ilk.
Burns at his most humanitarian.
I attended the Service of Remembrance this morning at the Airborne Cemetery in Arnhem to commemorate those who never came back. I've been going for several years and each time I find it very moving.
This morning was somehow extra special, as a boy, (7 or , with learning difficulties wandered down to the front and stood for most of the drum-head ceremony beside the pastor. He in no way disturbed things. On the contrary, he was totally respectful and no-one made any effort to take him away.
It somehow deepened the whole atmosphere.

JD in thoughtful mood.

PS; I tried to find which victory prompted Burns to pen the thanksgiving piece, - without success.

[brian f]

JD

Battle of the Saintes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Saintes

Penny tray, will correct me if its wrong.

[Penny Tray]

You're right

[Penny Tray]

Spare me thy vengeance, Galloway!
In quiet let me live:
I ask no kindness at thy hand,
For thou has none to give.

*EPIGRAMS AGAINST THE EARL OF GALLOWAY

[John Donnelly]

JD

Battle of the Saintes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Saintes

Penny tray, will correct me if its wrong.

Thanks Brian. JD.