LEAD KINDLY LIGHT 



Beeches an' aiks entwine their theek, 

 An' firs, a stench, auld-farrant clique. 

 A' simmer day, your chimleys reek, 



Couthy and bien; 

 An' here an' there your windies keek 



Amang the green. 



A pickle plats an' paths an' posies, 

 A wheen auld gillyflowers an' roses: 

 A ring o' wa's the hale encloses 



Frae sheep or men; 

 An' there the auld housie beeks an' doses, 



A' by her lane. 



The gairdner crooks his weary back 



A' day in the pitaity-track, 



Or mebbe stops awhile to crack 



Wi' Jane the cook, 

 Or at some buss, worm-eaten-black, 



To gie a look. 



Frae the high hills the curlow ca's; 

 The sheep gang baaing by the wa's; 

 Or whiles a clan o' roosty craws 



Cangle thegether ; 

 The wild bees seek the gairden raws, 



Wearit ai' heather. 



[125] 



