Frien' Tammie, I thocht that I coudna dae better <br />Than rhyme a bit scrift in reply to yer letter, <br />Sae I juist bade the Muse lea her trantels ahint her, <br />An' lilt a bit sang tae Tam Duncan, the Printer. <br /> <br /> <br />An' wow she was cadgie an' fidgin' fu' fain, <br />An' tae skirl the Doric her pipe didna hain; <br />To half-clippet English I never could stint her, <br />Mair special whan singin' tae Tammie, the Printer. <br /> <br /> <br />Tell Jamie, the Binder, sae cannie an' slee, <br />Sae quiet wi' the gab, an' sae gleg wi' the e'e, <br />That his leuks war sae frien'ly, sae truthfu' an' kin', <br />Whan he last took my haun' I aye min't it sin' syne. <br /> <br /> <br />There was nane sae frank-heartit an' free as young Burns <br />On the braes o' Cairnbroe; through life's trials an' turns <br />He's foughten his way, an' won up i' the warl, <br />A younker nae mair, but a blythe buirdly carle. <br /> <br /> <br />Ye threesum war welcome yon day at Langloan. <br />Hoo gleesum an' he'rtsum the time slippet on! <br />Ye'se be welcome again, sae come whan ye can, <br />Tae see the aul' wife an' her couthie aul' man. <br /> <br /> <br />POSTSCRIPT <br /> <br />Cam' ye frae Hyndford, Carmichael, my man, <br />For yer name is the name o' the aul' yerl's clan? <br />Ye'll hae read o' the tulzie an' spillin' o' bluid <br />'Tween young Lord Carmichael an' Baron Polmood.<br /><br />Janet Hamilton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/verses-inscribed-to-mr-thomas-duncan-glasgow/
