Though handicapped by rum and much a ranter,
He won the madcap race in _Tam O'Shanter_.
He drove a spanking span from Scottish heather,
Strong-limbed, but light of foot as flea or feather--
Rhyme and Reason, matched and yoked together,
And reined them with light hand and limber leather.
He wrote to me once on a time--I mind it--
A bold epistle and the poet signed it.
He thought to cheat "Auld Nickie" of his dues,
But who outruns the Devil casts his shoes;
And so at last from frolicking and drinkin',
'Some luckless hour' sent him to Hell 'alinkin'![CW]
Times had been rather dull in my dominion,
And all my imps like lubbers lay a snoring,
But Burns began to rhyme us his opinion,
And in ten minutes had all Hell aroaring.
Then Robbie pulled his book of poems out
And read us sundry satires from the book;
'_Death and Doctor Hornbook_' raised a shout
Till all the roof-tin on the rafters shook;
And when his '_Unco Guid_' the bardie read
The crew all clapped their hands and yelled like mad;
But '_Holy Willie's Prayer_' 'brought down the house'.
So I was glad to give the bard a pass
And a few pence for toll at Peter's gate;
For if the roof of Hell were made of brass
Bob Burns would shake it off as sure as fate.
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