To Robert Louis Stevenson

Written in wet weather, this conveyed to the Master of Ballantrae a wrong
idea of a very beautiful and charming place, with links, a river
celebrated by Burns, good sea-fishing, and, on the river, a ruined castle
at every turn of the stream. ‘Try Ballantrae’ is a word of wisdom.

WHAN suthern wunds gar spindrift flee
Abune the clachan, faddums hie,
Whan for the cluds I canna see
The bonny lift,
I’d fain indite an Ode to thee
Had I the gift!

Ken ye the coast o’ wastland Ayr?
Oh mon, it’s unco bleak and bare!
Ye daunder here, ye daunder there,
And mak’ your moan,
They’ve rain and wund eneuch to tear
The suthern cone!

Ye’re seekin’ sport! There’s nane ava’,
Ye’ll sit and glower ahint the wa’
At bleesin’ breakers till ye staw,
If that’s yer wush;
‘There’s aye the Stinchar.’ Hoot awa’,
She wunna fush!

She wunna fush at ony gait,
She’s roarin’ reid in wrathfu’ spate;
Maist like yer kimmer when ye’re late
Frae Girvan Fair!
Forbye to speer for leave I’m blate
For fushin’ there!

O Louis, you that writes in Scots,
Ye’re far awa’ frae stirks and stots,
Wi’ drookit hurdies, tails in knots,
An unco way!
My mirth’s like thorns aneth the pots
In Ballantrae!