Classic Poem

I.

Fisher W ATTY'S dead an' gane,
Death amang his cairns has gripp't him;
Aft afore, whan he wad fain
Hae made the kittle chiel his ain,
Watty gied a flaff an' slipt him

II.

Noo at length the mools amang,
The elrich carle has laid him fairly;
Quoth he, " Ye've play'd yer pliskies lang,
My faith! but ye maun end yer sang
An' pack awa to saxton Charlie. "

III.

Waes me! sin' canny Wat's awa,
I feel sae lanesome an' sae weary,
Tho' simmer winds abune me blaw,
Ilk burnie seems a rin o' snaw
An' Tweed gangs daundrin', douf an' dreary.

IV.

Aft I clim' the bosky brae,
Aft I seek the haly rowan,
At the gloamin' o' the day,
Ere the starns begin their sway —
Whan the lav'rock woos the gowan.

V.

Aft I wanner to the stane —
The warlock stane whar late we parted;
Waes me! sin' Fisher Watty's gane,
My souple wan' I wald alane,
Wi' feckless arm, ower pools deserted.

VI.

Here, the hazel boughs aboon,
That to their mirror beck sae gaily,
Puir Wat upon an April noon
Gied his last fish its deadly stoun',
An' as it wambled, gaff'd it brawly.

VII.

There, in yonner stream sae blate,
Quoth he, " Whane'er the cock's a-crawin',
Anither cast we'll aiblins get; "
But death was tirlin' at his yett
An hour or twa afore the dawin'.

VIII.

In the kirk-yaird beild sae green,
Auld Watty's laid by saxton Charlie,
An' ay on ilka simmer's e'en
I think upon the time that's been —
An' as I wanner, miss him sairly.