A Portrait of Robert Burns Robert Burns

1785 · Poem

Epitaph on Holy Willie


Here Holy Willie’s sair worn clayTaks up its last abode;His saul has ta’en some other way,I fear, the left-hand road.4
Stop! there he is, as sure’s a gun,Poor, silly body, see him;Nae wonder he’s as black’s the grun,Observe wha’s standing wi’ him.8
Your brunstane devilship, I see,Has got him there before ye;But haud your nine-tail cat a wee,Till ance you’ve heard my story.12
Your pity I will not implore,For pity ye have nane;Justice, alas! has gi’en him o’er,And mercy’s day is gane.16
But hear me, Sir, deil as ye are,Look something to your credit;A coof like him wad stain your name,If it were kent ye did it.20
Year
1785
Form
Poem
Location
Mossgiel
Source
Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns