T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Anna
By Robert Burns (1759–1796)(From Merry Muses of Caledonia, c. 1800) |
YESTREEN I had a pint o’ wine, | |
| A place where body saw na; | |
| Yestreen lay on this breast of mine, | |
| The raven locks of Anna. | |
| The hungry Jew, in wilderness, | 5 |
| Rejoicing o’er his manna, | |
| Was naething to my hinny bliss, | |
| Upon the lips of Anna. | |
| Ye monarchs take the East and West, | |
| Frae Indus to Savannah; | 10 |
| Gie me within my straining grasp, | |
| The melting form of Anna. | |
| Then I’ll despise Imperial charms, | |
| An Empress or Sultana; | |
| While dying raptures in her arms, | 15 |
| I give and take with Anna. | |
| Awa thou flaunting God of Day! | |
| Awa thou pale Diana! | |
| Ilk star gae hide thy twinkling ray, | |
| When I’m to meet my Anna. | 20 |
| Come in thy raven-plumage, Night, | |
| Sun, moon and stars withdrawn a’! | |
| An’ bring an angel-pen to write | |
| My transports wi’ my Anna. | |
POSTSCRIPT The kirk and state may join and tell | 25 |
| To do sic things I maunna; | |
| The kirk and state may gae to hell, | |
| An’ I shall gae to Anna. | |
| She is the sunshine o’ my e’e, | |
| To live but her I canna; | 30 |
| Had I on earth but wishes three, | |
| The first should be my Anna. | |