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Home  »  Parnassus  »  Robert Burns (1759–1796)

Ralph Waldo Emerson, comp. (1803–1882). Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. 1880.

Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn

Robert Burns (1759–1796)

(See full text.)

YE scattered birds that faintly sing,

The reliques of the vernal choir!

Ye woods that shed on a’ the winds

The honors of the aged year!

A few short months, and glad and gay,

Again ye’ll charm the ear and e’e;

But nocht in all revolving time

Can gladness bring again to me.

The bridegroom may forget the bride

Was made his wedded wife yestreen;

The monarch may forget the crown

That on his head an hour has been;

The mother may forget the child

That smiles sae sweetly on her knee:

But I’ll remember thee, Glencairn,

And a’ that thou hast done for me!