Robert Burns - To A Mouse - poem

To A Mouse by Robert Burns

To A Mouse.
On turning her up in her nest with the plough, November 1785.


Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murdering pattle.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
An' fellow mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't.

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's win's ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld.

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou are blest, compared wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

Audio created by Robert Nichol AudioProductions London all rights reserved
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[Muzozavr]

Since I don't know this dialect (english isn't my native language) I had to search for a vid just to see how it's pronounced. I was correct -- it IS indeed a great poem.

[JustAudio2008]

And its Burns night soon - raise a glass to that great poet

[sachiokoyin]

I love burns, but I need to learn how to read in the accent...this is great to get me started.

[JustAudio2008]

You must also drink Whisky & Eat Haggis -it all helps!!

[drfatpig78]

Poor wee mouse

[TimeTravellersGirl]

Well done. We kind of have a Burns theme in common. 5 starred!

[HeWhoAvoidsTheLight]

well recited.

[ron611087]

To invest our sweat for a benefit only to be realised in a seasons time. To have compassion for fellow creatures. To understand the abstraction of the future and the past. To know that these are the things things make us human.

Philosophers debate at length on these things. An 18th century farmers son summarised them all in a single poem. Now that's an original beautiful mind.

[PunkPandaXxx]

of mice and men...

[Thylacine1949]

Excellent reading. Can you tell me the name of the reciter?

[screamolives]

Haha this reminds me of when I had to perform this at school when I was 9

[trueVincent555]

This is by far the best version of this poem here on youtube, keep up the good work :)

[CarbonBlonde]

when someone does it properly its beautiful. 

[CarbonBlonde]

@drfatpig78 but it wasnt poor

[ccdg1066]

@Muzozavr The reader does a wonderful job. Would be nice if there was a credit for her. Love the poem!

[DonegalRaymie201]

@maddbutcher666

This isnae in Gaelic idiot! This is Lallan Scots!