Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DAFT DAYS, by ROBERT FERGUSSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Now mirk december's dowie face Last Line: The city guard. Alternate Author Name(s): Ferguson, Robert Subject(s): Winter | ||||||||
NOW mirk December's dowie face Glowrs owr the rigs wi' sour grimace, While, thro' his minimum of space, The bleer-ey'd sun, Wi' blinkin' light and stealing pace, His race doth run. From naked groves nae birdie sings; To shepherd's pipe nae hillock rings; The breeze nae od'rous flavour brings From Borean cave; And dwyning Nature droops her wings, Wi' visage grave. Mankind but scanty pleasure glean Frae snawy hill or barren plain, Whan Winter, 'midst his nipping train, Wi' frozen spear, Sends drift owr a' his bleak domain, And guides the weir. Auld Reikie! thou'rt the canty hole, A bield for mony a caldrife soul, Wha snugly at thine ingle loll, Baith warm and couth; While round they gar the bicker roll To weet their mouth. When merry Yule-day comes, I trow, You'll scantlins find a hungry mou; Sma' are our cares, our stamacks fou O' gusty gear, And kickshaws, strangers to our view, Sin' fairn-year. Ye browster wives! now busk ye bra, And fling your sorrows far awa'; Then, come and gie's the tither blaw O' reaming ale, Mair precious than the Well of Spa, Our hearts to heal. Then, tho' at odds wi' a' the warl', Amang oursells we'll never quarrel; Tho' Discord gie a canker'd snarl To spoil our glee, As lang's there's pith into the barrel We'll drink and 'gree. Fiddlers! your pins in temper fix, And roset weel your fiddlesticks, But banish vile Italian tricks From out your quorum, Nor fortes wi' pianos mix -- Gie's Tullochgorum. For nought can cheer the heart sae weel As can a canty Highland reel; It even vivifies the heel To skip and dance: Lifeless is he wha canna feel Its influence. Let mirth abound; let social cheer Invest the dawning of the year; Let blithesome innocence appear To crown our joy; Nor envy, wi' sarcastic sneer, Our bliss destroy. And thou, great god of aqua vitae! Wha sways the empire of this city -- When fou we're sometimes capernoity -- Be thou prepar'd To hedge us frae that black banditti, The City Guard. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOOKING EAST IN THE WINTER by JOHN HOLLANDER WINTER DISTANCES by FANNY HOWE WINTER FORECAST by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN AT WINTER'S EDGE by JUDY JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 34 by JAMES JOYCE BRAID CLAITH by ROBERT FERGUSSON A DRINK ECLOGUE: LANDLADY, BRANDY AND WHISKY by ROBERT FERGUSSON |
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