The Burnie

The water ran doon frae the heich hope-heid,
    Wi' a Rin, burnie, rin;
It wimpled, an' waggled, an' sang a screed
    O' nonsense, an' wadna blin
    Wi' its Rin, burnie, rin.

Frae the hert o' the warl, wi' a swirl an' a sway,
    An' a Rin, burnie, rin,
That water lap clear frae the dark til the day,
    An' singin awa did spin,
    Wi' its Rin, burnie, rin.

Ae wee bit mile frae the heich hope-heid
    Wi' its Rin, burnie, rin,
Mang her yows an' her lammies the herd-lassie stude,
    An' she loot a tear fa' in,
    Wi' a Rin, burnie, rin.

Frae the hert o' the maiden that tear-drap rase
    Wi' a Rin, burnie, rin;
Wear'ly clim'in up weary ways
    There was but a drap to fa' in,
    Sae laith did that burnie rin.

Twa wee bit miles frae the heich hope-heid
    Wi' its Rin, burnie, rin,
Doon creepit a cowerin streakie o' reid,
    An' it meltit awa within
    The burnie 'at aye did rin.

Frae the hert o' a youth cam the tricklin reid,
    Wi' its Rin, burnie, rin;
It ran an' ran till it left him deid,
    An' syne it dried up i' the win':
    That burnie nae mair did rin.

Whan the wimplin burn that frae three herts gaed
    Wi' a Rin, burnie, rin,
Cam to the lip o' the sea sae braid,
    It curled an' groued wi' pain o' sin--
    But it tuik that burnie in.