“To a Mouse” by Robert Burns, submitted by Jeanne Young<\/p>\n
On Turning her up in her Nest with the Plough
\nWee, sleekit, cow’rin’, tim’rous beastie,
\nO what a panic’s in thy breastie!
\nThou need na start awa sae hasty,
\nWi’ bickering brattle!
\nI wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee
\nWi’ murd’ring pattle!<\/p>\n
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion
\nHas broken nature’s social union,
\nAn’ justifies that ill opinion
\nWhich makes thee startle
\nAt me, thy poor earth-born companion,
\nAn’ fellow-mortal!<\/p>\n
I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
\nWhat then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
\nA daimen-icker in a thrave
\n‘S a sma’ request:
\nI’ll get a blessin’ wi’ the lave,
\nAnd never miss’t!<\/p>\n
Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
\nIts silly wa’s the win’s are strewin’:
\nAnd naething, now, to big a new ane,
\nO’ foggage green!
\nAn’ bleak December’s winds ensuin’
\nBaith snell an’ keen!<\/p>\n
Thou saw the fields laid bare and waste
\nAn’ weary winter comin’ fast,
\nAn’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
\nThou thought to dwell,
\nTill, crash! the cruel coulter past
\nOut thro’ thy cell.<\/p>\n
That wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble
\nHas cost thee mony a weary nibble!
\nNow thou’s turned out, for a’ thy trouble,
\nBut house or hald,
\nTo thole the winter’s sleety dribble
\nAn’ cranreuch cauld!<\/p>\n
But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane
\nIn proving foresight may be vain:
\nThe best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
\nGang aft a-gley,
\nAn’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
\nFor promised joy.<\/p>\n
Still thou art blest, compared wi’ me!
\nThe present only toucheth thee:
\nBut, oh! I backward cast my e’e
\nOn prospects drear!
\nAn’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
\nI guess an’ fear!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“To a Mouse” by Robert Burns, submitted by Jeanne Young On Turning her up in her Nest with the Plough Wee, sleekit, cow’rin’, tim’rous beastie, O what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ … Continue reading