To Thomas Keats

Ah! ken ye what I met the day

      Out oure the Mountains

A coming down by craggies gray

      An mossie fountains—

Ah goud-hair'd Marie yeve I pray

      Ane minute's guessing—

For that I met upon the way

      Is past expressing.

As I stood where a rocky brig

      A torrent crosses

I spied upon a misty rig

      A troup o' Horses—

And as they trotted down the glen

      I sped to meet them

To see if I might know the Men

      To stop and greet them.

First Willie on his sleek mare came

      At canting gallop

His long hair rustled like a flame

      On board a shallop,

Then came his brother Rab and then

      Young Peggy's Mither

And Peggy too—adown the glen

      They went togither—

I saw her wrappit in her hood

      Frae wind and raining—

Her cheek was flush wi' timid blood

      Twixt growth and waning—

She turn'd her dazed eyes full oft

      For there her Brithers

Came riding with her Bridegroom soft

      And mony ithers.

Young Tam came up and eyed me quick

      With reddened cheek—

Braw Tom was daffed like a chick—

      He couldna speak—

Ah, Marie, they are all gane hame

      Through blustering weather

An' every heart is full on flame

      An' light as feather.

Ah! Marie, they are all gone hame

      Frae happy wadding,

Whilst I—Ah is it not a shame?

      Sad tears am shedding.