'Willie's Awa' or 'Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher'

Selkirk 13th May 1787

Auld chuckie Reekie's sair distrest,
Down droops her ance weel-burnish'd crest,
Nae joy her bonie buskit nest
Can yield ava;
Her darling bird that she loes best,
Willie's awa. ----

O Willie was an unco a witty wight,
And had o' things an unco slight;
Auld Reekie ay he keepit tight,
And trig an' braw:
I fear But now they'll busk her like a fright,
Willie's awa! ----

The stiffest o' them a' he bow'd,
The bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;
They durst nae mair than he allow'd,
That was a law:
We've lost a birkie weel worth gowd,
Willie's awa. ----
; 

Now gawkies, tawpies, gowks and fools,
Frae colleges and boarding schools,
May sprout like simmer puddock-stools
In glen or shaw;
He wha could brush them down to mools
Willie's awa. ----
The brethren o' the commerce-chaumer
May mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour;
He was a dictionar and grammar
Among them a':
I fear they'll now mak mony a stammer,
Willie's awa ----

Nae mair we see his levee door
Philosophers and Poets pour,
And toothy Critics by the score
In bloody raw;
The Adjutant of a' the core
Willie's awa. ----

Now worthy Greg'ry'slatin face,
Tytler's and Greenfield's modest grace,

Mackenzie, Stuart, such a brace
As Rome ne'er saw;
They a' maun meet some ither place,
Willie's awa. ----

Poor Burns ---- even Scotch Drink canna quicken,
He cheeps like some bewilder'd chicken,
Scar'd frae its minnie and the cleckin
By hoodie-craw:
Grief's gien his heart an unco kickin,
Willie's awa. --

Now ev'ry sour-mou'd, girnin blellum,
And Calvin's folk, are fit to fell him;
Ilk self-conceited, critic skellum
His quill may draw;
He wha could brawlie ward their bellum
Willie's awa. ----

Up wimpling, stately Tweed I've sped,
And Eden scenes on crystal Jed,
And Ettrick banks, now roaring red
While tempests blaw;
But every joy and pleasure's fled,
Willie's awa. ----

;Willie's awa. ---- 

May I be Slander's common speech;
A text for Infamy to preach;
And lastly, streekit out to bleach
In winter snaw;
When I forget thee, Willie Creech,
Tho' far awa! ----

May never wicked Fortune touzle him!
May never wicked men bamboozle him!
Until a pow as auld's Methusalem
He canty claw!
Then to the blessed new Jerusalem
Fleet-wing awa!!!
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