Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet^[1]

No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay,

"No storied urn nor animated bust;"

This simple stone directs pale Scotia's way,

To pour her sorrows o'er the Poet's dust.

Additional Stanzas

She mourns, sweet tuneful youth, thy hapless fate;

Tho' all the powers of song thy fancy fired,

Yet Luxury and Wealth lay by in state,

And, thankless, starv'd what they so much admired.

This tribute, with a tear, now gives

A brother Bard—he can no more bestow:

But dear to fame thy Song immortal lives,

A nobler monument than Art can shew.

Inscribed Under Fergusson's Portrait

Curse on ungrateful man, that can be pleased,

And yet can starve the author of the pleasure.

O thou, my elder brother in misfortune,

By far my elder brother in the Muses,

With tears I pity thy unhappy fate!

Why is the Bard unpitied by the world,

Yet has so keen a relish of its pleasures?

[1] The stone was erected at Burns' expenses in February—March, 1789.