Explore "Inscription for the Headstone of Fergusson the Poet" by Robert Burns on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The stone was erected at Burns' expenses in February-March, 1789.
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.
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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.