LET other heroes boast their scars, <br />The marks of sturt and strife: <br />And other poets sing of wars, <br />The plagues of human life: <br />Shame fa' the fun, wi' sword and gun <br />To slap mankind like lumber! <br />I sing his name, and nobler fame, <br />Wha multiplies our number. <br /> <br /> <br />Great Nature spoke, with air benign, <br />"Go on, ye human race; <br />This lower world I you resign; <br />Be fruitful and increase. <br />The liquid fire of strong desire <br />I've pour'd it in each bosom; <br />Here, on this had, does Mankind stand, <br />And there is Beauty's blossom." <br /> <br /> <br />The Hero of these artless strains, <br />A lowly bard was he, <br />Who sung his rhymes in Coila's plains, <br />With meikle mirth an'glee; <br />Kind Nature's care had given his share <br />Large, of the flaming current; <br />And, all devout, he never sought <br />To stem the sacred torrent. <br /> <br /> <br />He felt the powerful, high behest <br />Thrill, vital, thro' and thro'; <br />And sought a correspondent breast, <br />To give obedience due: <br />Propitious Powers screen'd the young flow'rs, <br />From mildews of abortion; <br />And low! the bard—a great reward— <br />Has got a double portion! <br /> <br /> <br />Auld cantie Coil may count the day, <br />As annual it returns, <br />The third of Libra's equal sway, <br />That gave another Burns, <br />With future rhymes, an' other times, <br />To emulate his sire: <br />To sing auld Coil in nobler style <br />With more poetic fire. <br /> <br /> <br />Ye Powers of peace, and peaceful song, <br />Look down with gracious eyes; <br />And bless auld Coila, large and long, <br />With multiplying joys; <br />Lang may she stand to prop the land, <br />The flow'r of ancient nations; <br />And Burnses spring, her fame to sing, <br />To endless generations!<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/nature-s-law-a-poem/
