In liquor, raw yet still mysterious,

A’e freend’s aye mirrored in my glass.

Ahint the sheenin’ coonter gruff

Thrang barmen ding the tumblers doun

“In vino veritas” cry rough

And reid-een’d fules that in it droon.

But ilka evenin’ fey and fremt

(Is it a dream nae wauk’nin’ proves?)

As to a trystin’-place undreamt,

A silken leddy darkly moves.