ToAMouse,OnTurningHerUpInHerNestWithThePlough,November,1785

toamouse,onturningherupinhernestwiththeplough,november,1785

wee,sleekit,cow'rin,tim'rousbeastie,

o,whatapanic'sinthybreastie!

thouneednastartawasaehasty,

wi'bickeringbrattle!

iwadbelaithtorinan'chasethee,

wi'murd'ringpattle!

i'mtrulysorryman'sdominion,

hasbrokennature'ssocialunion,

an'justifiesthatillopinion,

whichmakestheestartle

atme,thypoor,earth-borncompanion,

an'fellow-mortal!

idoubtna,whiles,butthoumaythieve;

whatthen?poorbeastie,thoumaunlive!

adaimenickerinathrave

'sasma'request;

i'llgetablessinwi'thelave,

an'nevermiss't!

thyweebithousie,too,inruin!

it'ssillywa'sthewin'sarestrewin!

an'naething,now,tobiganewane,

o'agegreen!

an'bleakdecember'swindsensuin,

baithsnellan'keen!

thousawthefieldslaidbarean'waste,

an'wearywintercominfast,

an'coziehere,beneaththeblast,

thouthoughttodwell—

tillcrash!thecruelcoulterpast

outthro'thycell.

thatweebitheapo'leavesan'stibble,

hascosttheemonyawearynibble!

nowthou'sturn'dout,fora'thytrouble,

buthouseorhald,

totholethewinter'ssleetydribble,

an'cranreuchcauld!

but,mousie,thouartnothylane,

inprovingforesightmaybevain;

thebest-laidschemeso'micean'men

gangaftagley,

an'lea'eusnoughtbutgriefan'pain,

forpromis'djoy!

stillthouartblest,compar'dwi'me

thepresentonlytoucheththee:

but,och!ibackwardcastmye'e.

onprospectsdrear!

an'forward,tho'icannasee,

iguessan'fear!