Thou's welcome, wean; mishanter fa' me, <br />If thoughts o' thee, or yet thy mammie, <br />Shall ever daunton me or awe me, <br />My sweet wee lady, <br />Or if I blush when thou shalt ca' me <br />Tyta or daddie. <br /> <br />Tho' now they ca' me fornicator, <br />An' tease my name in countra clatter, <br />The mair they talk, I'm kend the better, <br />E'en let them clash; <br />An auld wife's tongue's a feckless matter <br />To gie ane fash. <br /> <br />Welcome! my bonie, sweet, wee dochter, <br />Tho' ye come here a wee unsought for, <br />And tho' your comin' I hae fought for, <br />Baith kirk and queir; <br />Yet, by my faith, ye're no unwrought for, <br />That I shall swear! <br /> <br />Sweet fruit o' monie a merry dint, <br />My funny toil is no a' tint, <br />Tho' thou cam to the warl' asklent, <br />Which fools may scoff at; <br />In my last plack thy part's be in't <br />The better ha'f o't. <br /> <br />Tho' I should be the waur bestead, <br />Thou's be as braw and bienly clad, <br />And thy young years as nicely bred <br />Wi' education, <br />As onie brat o' wedlock's bed, <br />In a' thy station. <br /> <br />Wee image o' my bonie Betty, <br />As fatherly I kiss and daut thee, <br />As dear and near my heart I set thee <br />Wi' as gude will <br />As a' the priests had seen me get thee <br />That's out o' hell. <br /> <br />Lord grant that thou may aye inherit <br />Thy mither's person, grace, an' merit, <br />An' thy poor, worthless daddy's spirit, <br />Without his failins, <br />'Twill please me mair to see thee heir it, <br />Than stockit mailens. <br /> <br />For if thou be what I wad hae thee, <br />And tak the counsel I shall gie thee, <br />I'll never rue my trouble wi' thee - <br />The cost nor shame o't, <br />But be a loving father to thee, <br />And brag the name o't.<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-poets-s-welcome-to-his-love-begotten-daughter/
