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  • O, Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast
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O, Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast

Robert Burns

Oh wert thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea, on yonder lea;
My plaidie to the angry airt,
I’d shelter thee, I’d shelter thee:
Or did Misfortune’s bitter storms
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a’, to share it a’.

Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare,
The desert were a Paradise,
If thou wert there, if thou wert there.
Or were I monarch o’ the globe,
Wi’ thee to reign, wi’ thee to reign;
The brightest jewel in my crown
Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.


Robert Burns

from The Canongate Burns: the complete poems and songs of Robert Burns (Canongate, 2001). Originally published posthumously in Currie, 1800.

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Painting of Robert Burns

Robert Burns1759 - 1796

Robert Burns is Scotland's historic national bard. His life, poetry and songs are celebrated each year on his birthday, 25 January, with Burns Supper events featuring poetry, haggis, whisky and bagpipes.
More about Robert Burns

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