Robert+Burns

** |||||| ** Biography ** Robert Burns was born in Alloway, January 25, 1759.He tried to be a farmer several times but was unsuccessful.His father died in 1784. In 1786 he published a book of his poems, "Kilmarnock", that was a success. He married Jean Armour in 1788. He died age 38, July 21, 1796, from rheumatic fever. ||  || Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, Oh, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle! I was be laith to rin an' chase thee, Wi' murd'ring pattle!
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 * || **Poems** ||||||  ||
 * **TO A MOUSE**

I'm truly sorry man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union, An' justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth-born companion An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request; I'll get a blessin wi' the lave, And never miss't!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! Its silly wa's the win's are strewin! An' naething, now, to big a new ane, O' foggage green! An' bleak December's winds ensuin, Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste, An' weary winter comin fast, An' cozie here, beneath the blast, Thou thought to dwell, Till crash! the cruel coulter past Out thro' thy cell.

That wee bit heap o' leaves an stibble, Has cost thee mony a weary nibble! Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble, But house or hald, To thole the winter's sleety dribble, An' cranreuch cauld!

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compared wi' me! The present only toucheth thee: But och! I backward cast my e'e, On prospects drear! An' forward, tho' I cannot see, I guess an' fear! || ** BANNOCKBURN **

The Scots they were na far away, But waited for the break o' day That glinted in the east.
 * At Bannockburn the English lay,--

But soon the sun broke through the heath And lighted up that field of death, When Bruce, wi' saul-inspiring breath, His heralds thus addressed:--

"Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled-- Scots, wham Bruce has aften led-- Welcome to your gory bed. Or to victorie!

"Now's the day, and now's the hour; See the front o' battle lower; See approach proud Edward's power-- Chains and slaverie!

"Wha will be a traitor knave? Wha can fill a coward's grave? Wha sae base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee!

"Wha for Scotland's king and law Freedom's sword will strongly draw, Freeman stand or freeman fa'-- Let him follow me!

"By Oppression's woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free!

"Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die!" ** |||||| ** I DREAM'D I LAY **

I dream'd I lay where flowers were springing Gaily in the sunny beam; List'ning to the wild birds singing, By a falling crystal stream: Straight the sky grew black and daring; Thro' the woods the whirlwinds rave; Trees with aged arms were warring, O'er the swelling drumlie wave.

Such was my life's deceitful morning, Such the pleasures I enjoyed: But lang or noon, loud tempests storming A' my flowery bliss destroy'd. Tho' fickle fortune has deceiv'd me- She promis'd fair, and perform'd but ill, Of mony a joy and hope bereav'd me- I bear a heart shall support me still. ||
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 * || **Poetic Devices Used** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * || // //Onomatopoeia// // ||  ||   ||   ||
 * || **Rhyme Scheme** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * The rhyme scheme for this poem is AABCBC DDEFEF GGHIHI JJKLKL MMNONO PPQRQR SSTUTU VVWXWX. || The rhyme scheme for this poem is AAAB CCCD EEEF GGGH IIIJ KKKL MMMN OOOP || The rhyme scheme for this poem is ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH ||  ||   ||
 * || **Explanation of Theme** ||  ||   ||   ||