Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
Its silly wa’s the win’s are strewin’!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
O’ foggage[7-7] green!
An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin’,
Baith snell[7-8] and keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
And weary winter comin’ fast,
And cozie, here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter[7-9] past
Out thro’ thy cell.
That wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,
But house or hald,[7-10]
To thole[7-11] the winter’s sleety dribble,
An’ cranreuch[7-12] cauld!
But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,[7-13]
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men,
Gang aft a-gley,[7-14]
An’ lea’e us nought but grief and pain,
For promis’d joy.
Still them are blest, compar’d wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e’e
On prospects drear;
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,[8-15]
I guess an’ fear.
[5-1] Sleekit means sly.
[5-2] Brattle means a short race.
[5-3] A pattle is a scraper for cleaning a plow.
[6-4] Daimen-icker means an ear of corn occasionally.
[6-5] A thrave is twenty-four sheaves.