PoorMailie'sElegy

poormailie'selegy

lamentinrhyme,lamentinprose,

wi'sauttearstricklingdownyournose;

ourbardie'sfateisataclose,

pasta'remead!

thelast,sadcape-staneo'hiswoes;

poormailie'sdead!

it'snothelosso'warl'sgear,

thatcouldsaebitterdrawthetear,

ormakourbardie,dowie,wear

themourningweed:

he'slostafriendan'neebordear

inmailiedead.

thro'a'thetownshetrottedbyhim;

alanghalf-mileshecoulddescryhim;

wi'kindlybleat,whenshedidspyhim,

sheranwi'speed:

afriendmairfaithfu'ne'ercamnighhim,

thanmailiedead.

iwatshewasasheepo'sense,

an'couldbehavehersel'wi'mense:

i'llsay't,sheneverbrakafence,

thro'thievishgreed.

ourbardie,lanely,keepsthespence

sin'mailie'sdead.

or,ifhewandersupthehowe,

herlivingimageinheryowe

comesbleatingtillhim,owretheknowe,

forbitso'bread;

an'downthebrinypearlsrowe

formailiedead.

shewasnaegeto'moorlandtips,

wi'tautedket,an'hairyhips;

forherforbearswerebroughtinships,

frae'yontthetweed.

abonierfleeshne'ercross'dtheclips

thanmailie'sdead.

waeworththemanwhafirstdidshape

thatvile,wanchanciething—araip!

itmaksguidfellowsgirnan'gape,

wi'chokindread;

an'robin'sbonnetwavewi'crape

formailiedead.

o,a'yebardsonboniedoon!

an'whaonayryourchanterstune!

come,jointhemelancholiouscroon

o'robin'sreed!

hisheartwillnevergetaboon—

hismailie'sdead!