AULD chuckie Reekies 1 sair distrest,
Down droops her ance weel burnishd crest,
Nae joy her bonie buskit nest
Can yield ava,
Her darling bird that she loes best
Willies awa!
O Willie was a witty wight,
And had o things an unco sleight,
Auld Reekie aye he keepit tight,
And trig an braw:
But now theyll busk her like a fright,
Willies awa!
The stiffest o them a he bowd,
The bauldest o them a he cowd;
They durst nae mair than he allowd,
That was a law:
Weve lost a birkie weel worth gowd;
Willies awa!
Now gawkies, tawpies, gowks and fools,
Frae colleges and boarding schools,
May sprout like simmer puddock-stools
In glen or shaw;
He wha could brush them down to mools
Willies awa!
The brethren o the Commerce-chaumer
May mourn their loss wi doolfu clamour;
He was a dictionar and grammar
Among them a;
I fear theyll now mak mony a stammer;
Willies awa!
Nae mair we see his levee door
Philosophers and poets pour,
And toothy critics by the score,
In bloody raw!
The adjutant o a the core
Willies awa!
Now worthy Gregorys Latin face,
Tytlers and Greenfields modest grace;
Mackenzie, Stewart, such a brace
As Rome neer saw;
They a maun meet some ither place,
Willies awa!
Poor Burns evn Scotch Drink canna quicken,
He cheeps like some bewilderd chicken
Scard frae its minnie and the cleckin,
By hoodie-craw;
Griegs gien his heart an unco kickin,
Willies awa!
Now evry sour-moud girnin blellum,
And Calvins folk, are fit to fell him;
Ilk self-conceited critic skellum
His quill may draw;
He wha could brawlie ward their bellum
Willies awa!
Up wimpling stately Tweed Ive sped,
And Eden scenes on crystal Jed,
And Ettrick banks, now roaring red,
While tempests blaw;
But every joy and pleasures fled,
Willies awa!
May I be Slanders common speech;
A text for Infamy to preach;
And lastly, streekit out to bleach
In winter snaw;
When I forget thee, Willie Creech,
Tho far awa!
May never wicked Fortune touzle him!
May never wicked men bamboozle him!
Until a pow as aulds Methusalem
He canty claw!
Then to the blessed new Jerusalem,
Fleet wing awa!
Note 1. Edinburgh. [back]