Leafless trees my fancy please

As an Ayrshire lass I could hardly miss out on the birthday of our national bard, Rabbie Burns.

Much of his work involved love or nature. He was particularly known for his dislike of winter. It seems fitting on his winter birthday to remember

“… leafless trees my fancy please …”

Happy Burns Day!

Winter, a Dirge

The wintry west extends his blast
And hail and rain does blaw
Or the stormy north sends driving forth
The blinding sleet and snaw.
While tumbling brown the burn comes down
And roars frae bank to brae
And bird and beast in covert rest
And pass the heartless day.

The sweeping blast, the sky o’ercast.
The joyless winter day
Let others fear, to me more dear
Than all the pride of May
The tempest’s howl, it soothes my soul,
My griefs it seems to join
The leafless trees my fancy please,
Their fate resembles mine!

Thou power supreme, whose mighty scheme
These woes of mine fulfil,
Here firm I rest, they must be best,
Because they are thy will!
Then all I want, O do thou grant,
This one request of mine.
Since to enjoy thou dost deny,
Assist me to resign.