Living

On Tam The Chapman

by Robert Burns 1759–1796

From Poems and Songs, 1784

Living

As Tam the chapman on a day,
Wi’Death forgather’d by the way,
Weel pleas’d, he greets a wight so famous,
And Death was nae less pleas’d wi’ Thomas,
Wha cheerfully lays down his pack,
And there blaws up a hearty crack:
His social, friendly, honest heart
Sae tickled Death, they could na part;
Sae, after viewing knives and garters,
Death taks him hame to gie him quarters.

MLA

Burns, Robert. “On Tam The Chapman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/burns/58/.

Chicago

Burns, Robert. “On Tam The Chapman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/burns/58/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Robert Burns