Tam Glen

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



1     My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie,
2         Some counsel unto me come len';
3     To anger them a' is a pity,
4         But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?

5     I'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow,
6         In poortith I might mak a fen':
7     What care I in riches to wallow,
8         If I mauna marry Tam Glen?

9     There's Lowrie, the laird o' Dumeller,
10       "Guid-day to you,"--brute! he comes ben:
11   He brags and he blaws o' his siller,
12       But when will he dance like Tam Glen?

13   My minnie does constantly deave me,
14       And bids me beware o' young men;
15   They flatter, she says, to deceive me;
16       But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen?

17   My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him,
18       He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten:
19   But, if it's ordain'd I maun take him,
20       O wha will I get but Tam Glen?

21   Yestreen at the valentines' dealing,
22       My heart to my mou gied a sten:
23   For thrice I drew ane without failing,
24       And thrice it was written, "Tam Glen"!

25   The last Halloween I was waukin
26       My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken:
27   His likeness cam up the house staukin,
28       And the very gray breeks o' Tam Glen!

29   Come counsel, dear Tittie, don't tarry;
30       I'll gie ye my bonie black hen,
31   Gif ye will advise me to marry
32       The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

1:19 min read
126

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CBCB DBDB EBEB FBFB GBGB BBBB DBDB
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,338
Words 256
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

All Robert Burns poems | Robert Burns Books

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