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.