Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | II. Light: Day: Night | | “The midges dance aboon the burn” | | Robert Tannahill (1774–1810) |
| | | THE MIDGES dance aboon the burn; | |
| The dews begin to fa’; | |
| The pairtricks down the rushy holm | |
| Set up their e’ening ca’. | |
| Now loud and clear the blackbird’s sang | 5 |
| Rings through the briery shaw, | |
| While, flitting gay, the swallows play | |
| Around the castle wa’. | |
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| Beneath the golden gloamin’ sky | |
| The mavis mends her lay; | 10 |
| The redbreast pours his sweetest strains | |
| To charm the lingering day; | |
| While weary yeldrins seem to wail | |
| Their little nestlings torn, | |
| The merry wren, frae den to den, | 15 |
| Gaes jinking through the thorn. | |
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| The roses fauld their silken leaves, | |
| The foxglove shuts its bell; | |
| The honeysuckle and the birk | |
| Spread fragrance through the dell. | 20 |
| Let others crowd the giddy court | |
| Of mirth and revelry, | |
| The simple joys that nature yields | |
| Are dearer far to me. | | | | |
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