Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NAETHING, by ROBERT BURNS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: To you, sir, this summons I've sent Last Line: And my friendship, by god, when ye've naething. Variant Title(s): Extempore To Gavin Hamilton. Stanzas On Naething Subject(s): Friendship; Nothingness; Nihilism; Voids | ||||||||
To you, sir, this summons I've sent, Pray, whip till the pownie is freathing; But if you demand what I want, I honestly answer you-naething. Ne'er scorn a poor Poet like me, For idly just living and breathing, While people of every degree Are busy employed about-naething. Poor Centum-per-centum may fast, And grumble his hurdies their claithing, He'll find, when the balance is cast, He's gane to the devil for-naething. The courtier cringes and bows, Ambition has likewise its plaything; A coronet beams on his brows; And what is a coronet-naething. Some quarrel the Presbyter gown, Some quarrel Episcopal graithing; But every good fellow will own Their quarrel is a' about-naething. The lover may sparkle and glow, Approaching his bonnie bit gay thing: But marriage will soon let him know He's gotten-a buskit up naething. The Poet may jingle and rhyme, In hopes of a laureate wreathing, And when he has wasted his time, He's kindly rewarded wi'-naething. The thundering bully may rage, And swagger and swear like a heathen; But collar him fast, I'll engage, You'll find that his courage is-naething. Last night wi' a feminine whig -- A Poet she couldna put faith in; But soon we grew lovingly big, I taught her, her terrors were naething. Her whigship was wonderful pleased, But charmingly tickled wi' ae thing, Her fingers I lovingly squeezed, And kissed her, and promised her-naething. The priest anathemas may threat -- Predicament, sir, that we're baith in; But when honour's reveille is beat, The holy artillery's naething. And now I must mount on the wave -- My voyage perhaps there is death in; But what is a watery grave? The drowning a Poet is naething. And now, as grim death's in my thought, To you, sir, I make this bequeathing; My service as long as ye've ought, And my friendship, by God, when ye've naething. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VERS DE SOCI??T?? by PHILIP LARKIN AT THE GRAVE OF MY GUARDIAN ANGEL: ST. LOUIS CEMETERY, NEW ORLEANS by LARRY LEVIS CONTRA MORTEM: THE NOTHING I by HAYDEN CARRUTH CONTRA MORTEM: THE NOTHING II by HAYDEN CARRUTH NOTHING AND THE INCIDENT IN THE STREETS by GREGORY ORR POEM ABOUT NOTHING by GREGORY ORR THE LAST WISH by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON A BARD'S EPITAPH by ROBERT BURNS A POET'S WELCOME TO HIS LOVE-BEGOTTEN DAUGHTER by ROBERT BURNS |
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