A Song for February
By Thomas Given
Day in an鈥� day oot on his auld farrant loom,
Time lengthens the wab o鈥� the past;
Dame Nature steps in like a lamp tae the room,
Hir e鈥檈 tae the simmer o鈥� life geein鈥� bloom.
So winter slips by, wi鈥� its mirth an鈥� its gloom,
As spring is appearin鈥� at last.
The robin gets up an鈥� he lauchs in his glee,
In view o鈥� the prospect so braw;
Sets his heid tae the side, wi鈥� its feathers agee,
As he spies a bit snaw drop at fit o鈥� the tree,
An鈥� says tae himsel鈥� a鈥檒l hae denties tae pree
By an鈥� by when the splash is awa.
The blackbird keeks oot frae the fog at the broo,
Gees his neb a bit dicht on a stane;
His eye caught the primrose appearin鈥� in view,
An鈥� the tiny wee violent o鈥� Nature鈥檚 ain blue;
He sung them a sang o鈥� the auld an鈥� the new 鈥�
A sang we may a鈥� let alane.
The thrush cuff鈥檛 the leaves 鈥檔eath the skep o鈥� the bee,
An鈥� he tirrl鈥檛 them aside wae a zest;
I maun hurry awa tae rehearsal, quo he,
This work fits the sparrow far better than me;
His sang pleased the ear frae the tap o鈥� the tree
As he fell intae tune wae the rest.
Thus Nature provides for hir hoose an鈥� hir wanes,
An鈥� we may rejoice in the plan;
The wren tae the bluebonnet sings his refrain
On causey o鈥� cottier or lordly domain;
The wagtail looks on withoot shade o鈥� disdain,
May we aye say the same o鈥� the man.
