Stanzas On Naething

    stanzas on naething
    extempore epistle to gavin hamilton, esq.
    to you, sir, this summons i've sent,
    pray, whip till the pownie is freathing;
    but if you demand what i want,
    i honestly answer you—naething.
    ne'er scorn a poor poet like me,
    for idly just living and breathing,
    while people of every degree
    are busy employed about—naething.
    poor centum-per-centum may fast,
    and grumble his hurdies their claithing,
    he'll find, when the balance is cast,
    he's gane to the devil for-naething.
    the courtier cringes and bows,
    ambition has likewise its plaything;
    a coronet beams on his brows;
    and what is a coronet-naething.
    some quarrel the presbyter gown,
    some quarrel episcopal graithing;
    but every good fellow will own
    their quarrel is a' about—naething.
    the lover may sparkle and glow,
    approaching his bonie bit gay thing:
    but marriage will soon let him know
    he's gotten—a buskit up naething.
    the poet may jingle and rhyme,
    in hopes of a laureate wreathing,
    and when he has wasted his time,
    he's kindly rewarded wi'—naething.
    the thundering bully may rage,
    and swagger and swear like a heathen;
    but collar him fast, i'll engage,
    you'll find that his courage is—naething.
    last night wi' a feminine whig—
    a poet she couldna put faith in;
    but soon we grew lovingly big,
    i taught her, her terrors were naething.
    her whigship was wonderful pleased,
    but charmingly tickled wi' ae thing,
    her fingers i lovingly squeezed,
    and kissed her, and promised her—naething.
    the priest anathemas may threat—
    predicament, sir, that we're baith in;
    but when honour's reveille is beat,
    the holy artillery's naething.
    and now i must mount on the wave—
    my voyage perhaps there is death in;
    but what is a watery grave?
    the drowning a poet is naething.
    and now, as grim death's in my thought,
    to you, sir, i make this bequeathing;
    my service as long as ye've ought,
    and my friendship, by god, when ye've naething.