My curse upon your venom'd stang, <br />That shoots my tortur'd gums alang; <br />And thro' my lugs gies mony a twang, <br /> Wi' gnawing vengeance; <br />Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang, <br /> Like racking engines! <br /> <br />When fevers burn, or ague freezes, <br />Rheumatics gnaw, or cholic squeezes; <br />Our neighbors' sympathy may ease us, <br /> Wi' pitying moan; <br />But thee -- thou hell o' a' diseases -- <br /> They mock our groan! <br /> <br />Adown my beard the slavers trickle! <br />I throw the wee stools o'er the mickle, <br />As round the fire the giglets keckle, <br /> To see me loup; <br />While raving mad, I wish a heckle <br /> Were in their doup. <br /> <br />O' a' the num'rous human dools, <br />Ill har'sts, daft bargains, cutty-stools, <br />Or worthy friends rak'd i' the mools, <br /> Sad sight to see ! <br />The tricks o' knaves, or fash o' fools, <br /> Thou bear'st the gree. <br /> <br />Where'er that place be priests ca' hell, <br />Whence a' the tones o' mis'ry yell, <br />And rankd plagues their numbers tell, <br /> In dreadfu' raw, <br />Thou, Tooth-ache, surely bear'st the bell <br /> Amang them a'! <br /> <br />O thou grim, mischief-making chiel, <br />That gars the notes of discord squeel, <br />Till daft mankiud aft dance a reel <br /> In gore a shoe-thick; -- <br />Gie a' the foes o' Scotland's weal <br /> A towmond's Tooth-ache!<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/address-to-the-tooth-ache/
