SIR, o'er a gill I gat your card, <br />I trow it made me proud; <br />"See wha taks notice o' the bard!" <br />I lap and cried fu' loud. <br /> <br /> <br />Now deil-ma-care about their jaw, <br />The senseless, gawky million; <br />I'll cock my nose abune them a', <br />I'm roos'd by Craigen-Gillan! <br /> <br /> <br />'Twas noble, sir; 'twas like yourself', <br />To grant your high protection: <br />A great man's smile ye ken fu' well <br />Is aye a blest infection. <br /> <br /> <br />Tho', by his banes wha in a tub <br />Match'd Macedonian Sandy! <br />On my ain legs thro' dirt and dub, <br />I independent stand aye,— <br /> <br /> <br />And when those legs to gude, warm kail, <br />Wi' welcome canna bear me, <br />A lee dyke-side, a sybow-tail, <br />An' barley-scone shall cheer me. <br /> <br /> <br />Heaven spare you lang to kiss the breath <br />O' mony flow'ry simmers! <br />An' bless your bonie lasses baith, <br />I'm tauld they're loosome kimmers! <br /> <br /> <br />An' God bless young Dunaskin's laird, <br />The blossom of our gentry! <br />An' may he wear and auld man's beard, <br />A credit to his country.<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-mr-m-adam-of-craigen-gillan/
