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Robert Burns - To A Mouse, (The best Laid Schemes O` Mice An` Men)
Work rating: Medium

Wee, sleeket, cowrin, tim`rous beastie,
Oh, what a panic`s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi` bickerin brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an` chase thee
Wi` murd`ring pattle!

I`m truly sorry man`s dominion
Has broken Nature`s social union,
An` justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor earth-born companion,
An` fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve:
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
`S a sma` request;
I`ll get a blessin wi` the lave,
An` never miss `t!

Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
Its silly wa`s the win`s are strewin!
An` naething, now, to big a new ane,
O` foggage green!
An` bleak December`s winds ensuin
Baith snell an` keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an` wast,
An` weary winter comin fast,
An` cozie here beneath the blast
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro` thy cell.

That wee bit heap o` leaves an` stibble
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou`s turn`d out for a` thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter`s sleety dribble
An` cranreuch cauld!

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o` mice an` men
Gang aft agley,
An` lea`e us nought but grief an` pain
For promis`d joy.

Still thou art blest, compar`d wi` me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But, och! I backward cast my e`e
On prospects drear!
An` forward, tho` I canna see,
I guess an` fear!
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