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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HUGHIE'S ADVICE TO HIS BROTHER JOHN, by                    
First Line: Dear jock, ye're higher up the brae
Alternate Author Name(s): Haliburton, Hugh


DEAR JOCK, ye're higher up the brae
Than me, your aulder brither -
Keep mind the higher up ye gae
The mair ye're in the weather.
I'm no' misdootin' that ye're wice,
An', for your ploo-share, speed it!
I may better gi'e advice,
An' ye may better need it.
The higher up the brae ye speel
The farrer it's below ye, -
Tak' tent ye dinna gi'e the deil
Occasion to dounthrow ye.
Be douce an' ceevil wi' success,
For Fortune's no' to trust aye;
Then if your head should tak' the gress
Ye're whaur ye were at first aye.
An honest fa', wi' conscience clear,
It never brak' a bane yet;
There's aye the honest course to steer
For a' that's come an' gane yet.
But letna lucre be your aim,
Pursued thro' thick an' thin aye;
The honour o' an honest name,
That's what you first should win aye
For happiness (to God be thanks!)
Is no' the gift o' Fortun'
Wi' place the limmer plays her pranks,
Wi' men like puppets sportin' -
Rich folk lookin' idly on
At puir folk busy dargin' -
But happiness, my brither John,
It wasna in the bargain.
The ups an' douns o' human life
Are like a fairy revel;
But a' the warld, an' his wife,
Maun lie at ae great level.
An' that's a thocht for me an' you
When Fate's awards perplex us;
In calm eternity's wide view
There's little that should vex us.
Fate's like the waves aneth the mune,
An' we are vessels ridin';
It's doon an' up, an' up an' doon,
An' here there's nae abidin';
But on the far horizon's edge,
To which we're ever driftin',
The changes on oor pilgrimage
Are but a paltry shiftin'.






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