I canna biel’t; tho’ steekin’ an e’e

Tither’s munkie wi’ munebeam for knool in’t,

For there’s nae sta’-tree and the brute’s awa’

Wi’ me kinkin’ like foudrie ahint....

Sae Eternity’ll buff nor stye

For Time, and shies at a touch, man;

Yet aye in a belth o’ Thocht

Comes alist like the Fleein’ Dutchman....

As the worms’ll breed in my corpse until

It’s like a rice-puddin’, the thistle