Westlin Winds

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By Robbie Burns







Now westlin winds and slaughtering guns

Bring autumn's pleasant weather

The moorcock springs on whirring wings

Among the blooming heather

Now waving grain, wild o'er the plain

Delights the weary farmer

And the moon shines bright as I rove at night

To muse upon my charmer.





The partridge loves the fruitful fells

The plover loves the mountains

The woodcock haunts the lonely dells

The soaring hern the fountains

Through lofty groves the cushat roves

The path of man to shun it

The hazel bush o'erhangs the thrush

The spreading thorn the linnet





Thus every kind their pleasure find

The savage and the tender

Some social join and leagues combine

Some solitary wander

Avaunt away! the cruel sway

Tyrannic man's dominion

The sportsman's joy, the murdering cry

The fluttering gory pinion





But Peggy dear, the evening's clear

Thick files the skimming swallow

The sky is blue, the field's in view

All fading green and yellow

Com let us stray our gladsome way

And view the charms of nature

The rustling corn, the fruited thorn

And every happy creature





We'll gently walk and sweetly talk

Till the silent moon shines clearly

I'll grasp thy waiste and, fondly pressed

Swear how I love thee dearly

Not vernal showers to budding flowers

Not autumn to the farmer

So dear can be as thou to me

My fair, and lovely charmer