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George MacDonald - Time And Time
Work rating: Low

As I was walkin on the strand,
I spied ane auld man sit
On ane auld black rock; and aye the waves
Cam washin up its fit.
His lips they gaed as gien they wad lilt,
But o` liltin, wae`s me, was nane!
He spak but an owercome, dreary and dreigh,
A burden wha`s sang was gane:
"Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns;
They playt thegither i` the gloamin`s hush:
Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns,
And pairtit the twa wi` a glint and a gush."

"What can the auld man mean," quod I,
"Sittin o` the auld black rock?
The tide creeps up wi` a moan and a cry,
And a hiss `maist like a mock!
The words he mutters maun be the en`
O` some weary auld-warl` sang—
A deid thing floatin aboot in his brain,
`At the tide `ill no lat gang!"
"Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns;
They playt thegither i` the gloamin`s hush:
Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns,
And pairtit the twa wi` a glint and a gush."

"Hoo pairtit it them, auld man?" I said;
"Was`t the sea cam up ower strang?
Oh, gien thegither the twa o` them gaed
Their pairtin wasna lang!
Or was are ta`en, and the ither left—
Ane to sing, are to greit?
It`s sair, I ken, to be sae bereft—
But there`s the tide at yer feet!"
"Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns,
And they playt thegither i` the gloamin`s hush:
Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns,
And pairtit the twa wi` a glint and a gush."

"Was`t the sea o` space wi` its storm o` time
That wadna lat things bide?
But Death`s a diver frae heavenly clime
Seekin ye neth its tide,
And ye`ll gaze again in ither`s ee,
Far abune space and time!"
Never ae word he answered me,
But changed a wee his rime:
"Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns,
And they playt thegither upo` the shore;
Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns,
And pairtit the twa for evermore."

"May be, auld man, `twas the tide o` change
That crap atween the twa?
Hech! that`s a droonin fearsome strange,
Waur, waur nor are and a`!"
He said nae mair. I luikit, and saw
His lips they couldna gang:
Death, the diver, had ta`en him awa,
To gie him a new auld sang.
Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns,
And they playt thegither upo` the shore:
Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns,
And souft them awa throu a mirksome door!
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