To Thomas Keats

Belantree (for Ballantree) July 10 1818.

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 Tarn 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.