To a Mouse - A Poem by Robert Burns (Written by Burns after he had turned over the nest of a tiny field mouse with his plough. Burns was a farmer and farmers are generally far too busy to be concerned with the health of mice. This poem is another illustration of Robert Burns tolerance to all creatures and his innate humanity.) To a Mouse Wee, sleekit, cowran, timrous beastie, O, what a panics in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an chase thee, Wi murdring pattle! Im truly sorry Mans dominion Has broken Natures 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: Ill get a blessin wi the lave, An never misst! Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! Its silly was the wins are strewin! An naething, now, to big a new ane, O foggage green! An bleak Decembers winds ensuin, Baith snell an keen! Thou saw the fields laid bare an wast, 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 monie a weary nibble! Now thous turnd out, for a thy trouble, But house or hald. To thole the Winters sleety dribble, An cranreuch cauld! But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o Mice an Men, Gang aft agley, An leae us nought but grief an pain, For promisd joy! Still, thou art blest, compard wi me! The present only toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my ee, On prospects drear! An forward, tho I canna see, I guess an fear!
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:54:24 +0000
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