Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Tam Glen
1My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie,
2 Some counsel unto me come len';
3To anger them a' is a pity,
4 But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?
5I'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow,
6 In poortith I might mak a fen':
7What care I in riches to wallow,
8 If I mauna marry Tam Glen?
9There's Lowrie, the laird o' Dumeller,
10 "Guid-day to you,"--brute! he comes ben:
11He brags and he blaws o' his siller,
12 But when will he dance like Tam Glen?
13My minnie does constantly deave me,
14 And bids me beware o' young men;
15They flatter, she says, to deceive me;
16 But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen?
17My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him,
18 He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten:
19But, if it's ordain'd I maun take him,
20 O wha will I get but Tam Glen?
21Yestreen at the valentines' dealing,
22 My heart to my mou gied a sten:
23For thrice I drew ane without failing,
24 And thrice it was written, "Tam Glen"!
25The last Halloween I was waukin
26 My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken:
27His likeness cam up the house staukin,
28 And the very gray breeks o' Tam Glen!
29Come counsel, dear Tittie, don't tarry;
30 I'll gie ye my bonie black hen,
31Gif ye will advise me to marry
32 The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen.
Notes
1] Tittie: sister.
6] poortith: poverty.
fen': fend, i.e., shift for a living
8] maunna: may not.
10] ben: inside.
13] minnie: mother.
deave: deafen.
17] gin: if.
22] sten: leap.
25-28] "You go out, one or more (for this is a social spell), to a south-running spring, or rivulet, where 'three lairds' lands meet" and dip your left shirt-sleeve. Go to bed in sight of a fire, and hang your wet sleeve before it to dry. Lie awake; and, some time near midnight, an apparition, having the exact figure of the grand object in question, will come and turn the sleeve, as if to dry the other side of it" (Burns' note).
waukin: watching.
26] droukit: drenched.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: T. S., Edinburgh Magazine (Nov. 1784).
First publication date:
1784
RPO poem editor: G. G. Falle
RP edition: 3RP 2.312.
Recent editing: 4:2002/3/19
Rhyme: abab
Other poems by Robert Burns
