A Rare Edition

arqios

In Kilmarnock's print, a treasure lies,
A first edition, where history sighs,
From eighteen eighty-six, its verses flow,
Robert Burns’ heart, in dialect aglow.

Poems Chiefly In The Scottish Dialect,
Whispers of love, and nature’s effect,
Expected to fetch a princely sum,
Fifty to sixty thousand—oh, how it’ll hum!

Once just six hundred, a modest start,
Three shillings it cost, a work of pure art,
Yet within a month, the copies all gone,
Burns' voice, like a lark, sung sweet at dawn.

To A Mouse” and “The Twa Dogs” share,
Stories of life, in the Scottish air,
At twenty-seven, with passion he wrote,
A legacy penned in each heartfelt note.

Now just eighty-eight copies remain,
A glimpse of the past, a poet’s refrain,
As the auction approaches, the whispers grow loud,
For the magic of Burns, we all stand so proud.

 

Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓

Receive the ebook in seconds 50 poems from 50 different authors


Comments +

Comments7

  • Neville


    Hoots mon the noooo .. Tis verily good & a wee dram moooore .. a dubble 👍👍s up from me for sure .. But pray tell, is it true there be only eighty eight copies remaining?

    • arqios

      That's what the news says.... who knows (if not call it poetic licence lol). Perhaps they should organise a facsimile edition and those that can't figure in the bidding war could have a chance to own a copy. Just me blabbering....

    • sorenbarrett

      A fun read and a great tribute to a great poet. Funny how as time passes some things are valued more while others are thrown out as valueless. If lucky enough to be petrified or fossilized then more value still what was once trash. Nicely written my friend

      • arqios

        Thanks Soren. One person’s trash, another’s treasure!

      • Doggerel Dave

        I feel the history or virtually anything - how was it designed, how manufactured or made who (if not new) owned it previously… these feelings are intensified when dealing with antiques and old books -You have defined those feelings well here.

        • arqios

          Thanks Dave. Glad for this sense of history and connectedness.

        • Cheeky Missy

          Wow. Couldna profit Robbie Burns frae bonny Sco'land...nay, the profit's all the sellers and marketers. Readers may find their ain way in't and leave the enjoyment at that, wherever they find it. But la, in lieu of the luxury of a copy, how exquisitely you've capably rendered this, complete with a display to evocatively convey the delicious indulgence of an authentic copy. I wore me ain original 1881 printing of David M. Main's Treasury of English Sonnets to bits, having gratefully collected it from an old "hole in the wall" bookshop in MI 30 years ago March. Can't say I was a collector, but I certainly was thankful for obtaining it in mint condition, despite reading and rereading it to literal bits. Lovely and very beautifully rendered with excellent imagery and subtly haunting poignancy. Thank you very much for sharing.

          • arqios

            That’s an awesome life experience! Had some originals too at one stage, not literature books though.

            • Cheeky Missy

              It's not in me ain little mind so much literature as... the indulgence of higher plains and intellects than the day to day routine ever usually admits. As we generally enjoy here.

            • peet

              Lovely stuff. Very well written.

              • arqios

                Thanks peet, much appreciated 🙏🏻

              • Tony36

                Excellent

                • arqios

                  Thanks Tony. 🙏🏻

                  • Tony36

                    You're welcome

                  • Thomas W Case

                    Excellent work. I did that acestery dna thing...turns out, I'm 25% Scottish.

                    • arqios

                      Thanks Thomas.



                    To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.