Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE THISTLE, by ALEXANDER MACLAGGAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE THISTLE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hurrah for the thistle! The brave scottish thistle
Last Line: The strong-bearded, weel-guarded thistle for me!
Subject(s): Thistles


HURRAH for the thistle! the brave Scottish thistle,
The evergreen thistle of Scotland for me!
A fig for the flow'rs, in your lady-built bowers --
The strong-bearded, weel-guarded thistle for me!

'Tis the flow'r the proud eagle greets in its flight,
When he shadows the sun with the wings of his might;
'Tis the flow'r that laughs at the storm as it blows,
For the stronger the tempest, the greener it grows!
Hurrah for the thistle, etc.

Round the love-lighted hames o' our ain native land --
On the bonneted brow, on the hilt of the brand --
On the face o' the shield, 'mid the shouts o' the free,
May the thistle be seen where the thistle should be!
Hurrah for the thistle, etc.

Hale hearts we ha'e yet to bleed in its cause;
Bold harps we ha'e yet to sound its applause;
How, then, can it fade, when sic chiels an' sic cheer,
And sae mony braw sprouts o' the thistle are here?
Then hurrah for the thistle! the brave Scottish thistle,
The evergreen thistle of Scotland for me!
A fig for the flow'rs in your lady-built bow'rs --
The strong-bearded, weel-guarded thistle for me!





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