1781

winter: a dirge

the wintry west extends his blast,

and hail and rain does blaw;

or the stormy north sends driving forth

the blinding sleet and snaw:

while, tumbling brown, the burnes down,

and roars frae bank to brae;

and bird and beast in covert rest,

and pass the heartless day.

“the sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast,”

the joyless winter day

let others fear, to me more dear