ROBBIE BURNS (1759 - 96) SCOTIA\'S FAVOURITE POET !
THIS POEM IS DEDICATED TO JOOLES ~ A WEE SCOTS LASSIE
THE POEM ~ NAE THE TOOTHACHE ~ HUGS BRIAN !
My curse upon yer venom\'d stang
That shoots my tortur\'d gums alang
An thro ma lug gies mony a twang
Wi gnawing vengance
Tearing ma nerves wi bitter pang
Like racking engines
When fevers burn ~ or ague freezes
Rheumatics gnaw ~ or colic freezes
Our neebours sympathise to ease us
Wi pitying moan
But thee ~ thou hell o a\' diseases
They mock our groan !
Whare\'er that place yon priests ca\' hell
Whare a\' the tones o misery yell
An ranked plagues their numbers tell
In dreadful raw
Thou Toothache ~ surely bears the bell
Amang them a\'!
O thou grim mischief-making chiel
That gars the notes o dischord squeel
Till human kind aft dance a reel
In gore a shoe-thick
Gie a\' the faes o Scotland\'s weal
A towmond\'s TOOTHACHE !
Hope you understood it ~ Thanks for reading
comments welcome ~ Love to All ~ BRIAN ~ XOX
GLOSSARY: Stang = sting Twang = twinge Lug = ear
Chiel = child Gars = makes Towmond\'s = twelve month\'s
The meter (and rhyming pattern) is AULD HABBIE or BURNS METER
8 (a) 8 (a) 8 (a) 4 (b) 8 (a) 4 (b) It is this meter and rhyming
pattern that makes it so delightful to hear and recite ! I have had
the privilege of giving \"The Toast to the Immortal Bard\" at several
Burns\' Suppers including the recitation of Burns\' Poetry !