To a Mouse On Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough - January 29, 2018

[Beth]

(Robert Burns's birthday was January 25, known in Scotland as Burns Night. Here's a link to a modern English translation of the poem below: http://www.robertburns.org/inenglish/...)

To a Mouse On Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough, by Robert Burns

I'm truly sorry man's dominion,
Has broken nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell -
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e'e.
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

[Leslie]

I am unfamiliar with this poem Beth - nice choice! Thanks for sharing :)

[Diane S ☔]

I'm familiar with it, of Mice and men, love this poem!

[Joan]

One of my favorites- thanks Beth.
The translation to modern English link is very good, too.

“ wee tim’rous beastie” is a sort of catchphrase around our house. This poem was one thing that brought my husband and I together 35 years ago.

[Joan]

Oops, I realized my comment made no sense without the sort of preamble sorry here it is:

Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickerin brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee
Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

And here is a very good performance by Christopher Tait
https://youtu.be/_ndHYwXNPyk