WEE sleekit cow'rin' tim'rous beastie

    O what a panic's in thy breastie！

    Thou need na start awa sae hasty

    Wi' bickerin' brattle！

    I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee 5

    Wi' murd'rin' pattle！

    I'm truly sorry man's dominion¹

    Has broken Nature's social union

    An' justifies² that ill opinion

    Which makes thee startle 10

    At me thy poor earth-born companion

    An' fellow-mortal！

    I doubt na whiles but thou may thieve：

    What then？ poor beastie thou maun live！

    A daimen-icker in a thrave 15

    'S a sma' request：

    I'll get a blessin' wi' the lave

    An' never miss't！

    Thy wee bit housie too in ruin！

    Its silly wa's the win's are strewin'； 20

    An' naething now to big a new ane

    O' foggage green！

    An' bleak³ December's winds ensuin'

    Baith snell an' keen！

    Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste 25

    An' weary winter comin' fast

    An' cozie here beneath the blast

    Thou thought to dwell—

    Till crash！ the cruel coulter past

    Out thro' thy cell. 30

    That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble

    Has cost thee mony a weary nibble⁴！

    Now thou's turn'd out for a' thy trouble

    But house or hald

    To thole the winter's sleety⁵ dribble⁶ 35

    An' cranreuch cauld！

    But Mousie thou art no thy lane

    In proving foresight⁷ may be vain：

    The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men

    Gang aft agley 40

    An' lea'e us nought⁸ but grief an' pain

    For promised joy.

    Still thou art blest compar'd wi' me！

    The present only toucheth thee：

    But och！ I backward cast my e'e 45

    On prospects⁹ drear！

    An' forward tho' I canna see

    I guess an' fear！

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