ToJohnKennedy,DumfriesHouse

tojohnkennedy,dumfrieshouse

now,kennedy,iffootorhorse

e'erbringyouinbymauchlincorse,

(lord,man,there'slassestherewadforce

ahermit'sfancy;

an'downthegateinfaiththey'reworse,

an'mairunchancy).

butasi'msayin,pleasesteptodow's,

an'tastesicgearasjohniebrews,

tillsomebitcallanbringmenews

thatyearethere;

an'ifwedinnahaeabouze,

i'sene'erdrinkmair.

it'snoiliketositan'swallow,

thenlikeaswinetopukean'wallow;

butgiemejustatruegoodfallow,

wi'rightingine,

andspunkieancetomakusmellow,

an'thenwe'llshine.

nowifye'reaneo'warl'sfolk,

wharatethewearerbythecloak,

an'sklentonpovertytheirjoke,

wi'bittersneer,

wi'younaefriendshipiwilltroke,

norcheapnordear.

butif,asi'minformedweel,

yehateasill'stheverydeil

theflintyheartthatcannafeel—

come,sir,here'stoyou!

hae,there'smyhaun',iwissyouweel,

an'gudebewi'you.

robt.burness.

mossgiel,3rdmarch,1786.