on the birth of a posthumous child
born in peculiar circumstances of family distress.
sweet flow'ret, pledge o' meikle love,
and ward o' mony a prayer,
what heart o' stane wad thou na move,
sae helpless, sweet, and fair?
november hirples o'er the lea,
chil, on thy lovely form:
and gane, as! the shelt&# tree,
should shield thee frae the storm.
may he who gives the rain to pour,
and wings the bst to bw,
protect thee frae the driving show'r,
the bitter frost and snaw.
may he, the friend o' woe and want,
who heals life's various stounds,
proted guard the mother pnt,
and heal her cruel wounds.
but te she flourish'd, rooted fast,
fair in the summer morn,
now feebly bends she i,
uer'd and forlorn.
blest be thy bloom, thou lovely gem,
unscath'd by ruffian hand!
and from thee many a parent stem
arise to deck our nd!