A Backcast
How lanely the nichts by the auld ingle cheek,
Ohone, but a mither is nae like a wife,
Regret on the creepie sits watchin’ the reek,
An’ whaur are the dainties to comfort my life?
The backcast is dreary o’er years that are spent,
The rowan is withered, an’ leafless the gean,
They’re gane noo for ever, but, eh! had I kent,
Grim winter is reignin’ where summer was queen
I dammed for the lade that had never a wheel,
The chickens were bonnie but noo they’re awa’,
The castles I biggit gie other folk biel’.
O wae tak’ the gled that gaed aff wi’ them a’.
A lassie proved fickle, unfaithfu’ a frien’,
Tho’ soorocks an’ tansies grow green in the ha’,
An’ a mither is a’ I hae left o’ my ain,
The ivy sae kindly aye covers the wa’.