Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BURNIN' DRINK, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: I tell a tale o' burnin' love Last Line: Wi' bitter, burnin' hate. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Hate; Love; Social Protest; Temperance; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse; Prohibition | ||||||||
I TELL a tale o' burnin' love, A love they seldom tine Wha ance ha'e nursed it in their hearts: It's no a love divine; It's no a tale o' human love, Whaur ane may lo'e anither; It's no a mither's for a bairn, A sister's for her brither: Nae love o' science or o' art, Or nature's bonny face; It's no a love o' warl's gear, Nor a love o' power and place; It's no a love o' ocht that's gude, Or ocht that's fine or fair; It's no a love o' priest or kirk It's unco seldom there. This burnin' love dries up the sap O' mony a plant an' flower O' human growth; the levin fires Ha'e nae sic deadly power. It drains the life-bluid frae the he'rt O' mony a wretched wife, An' robs the waefu' parent's mind O' ilka joy in life. It strips the bairnie o' its duds An' robs it o' its bread, An' taks, though it should dee wi' cauld, The blanket aff the bed; "It sets the mouth against the heavens" Wi' cursin' an' blasphemin', Sic mixture o' the fiend and brute There's little hope o' tamin'. Nae thocht for body or for saul, Nae care for name or fame This burnin' love consumes them a', And glories in its shame. Oh! frae this base an' burnin' love Let man an' woman shrink: This deadly an' degradin' thing The burnin' love o' drink. The burnin' love o' burnin' drink Sune burnin' ruin brings, An' burnin' plagues on every han' Aroun' the lan' it flings. Oh! ye wha thole this burnin' love, I rede ye o' the fate That bides ye: tear it frae your heart Wi' bitter, burnin' hate. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES TEMPER by CLARA EXLINE BOCKOVEN A TRUCKER DRIVES THROUGH HIS LOST YOUTH by DAVID BOTTOMS THE FIGHTING WORD by BERTON BRALEY THE METHOD OF THE MAD MULLAH by BERTON BRALEY ON A PROHIBITIONIST POEM by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON A MAIDEN'S DREAM by ROBERT GREENE OUR PROGRAM by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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