AddressToTheShadeOfThomson

addresstotheshadeofthomson

oncrowninghisbustatednam,roxburghshire,withawreathofbays.

whilevirginspringbyeden'sflood,

unfoldshertendermantlegreen,

orpranksthesodinfrolicmood,

ortuneseolianstrainsbetween.

whilesummer,withamatrongrace,

retreatstodryburgh'scoolingshade,

yetoft,delighted,stopstotrace

theprogressofthespikyblade.

whileautumn,benefactorkind,

bytweederectshisagedhead,

andsees,withself-approvingmind,

eachcreatureonhisbountyfed.

whilemaniacwinterrageso'er

thehillswhenceclassicyarrowflows,

rousingtheturbidtorrent'sroar,

orsweeping,wild,awasteofsnows.

solong,sweetpoetoftheyear!

shallbloomthatwreaththouwellhastwon;

whilescotia,withexultingtear,

proclaimsthatthomsonwasherson.