Dirge

  1781
  winter: a dirge
  the wintry west extends his blast,
  and hail and rain does blaw;
  or the stormy north sends driving forth
  the blinding sleet and snaw:
  while, tumbling brown, the burn comes down,
  and roars frae bank to brae;
  and bird and beast in covert rest,
  and pass the heartless day.
  “the sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast,”
  the joyless winter day
  let others fear, to me more dear
  than all the pride of may:
  the tempest's howl, it soothes my soul,
  my griefs it seems to join;
  the leafless trees my fancy please,
  their fate resembles mine!
  thou power supreme, whose mighty scheme
  these woes of mine fulfil,
  here firm i rest; they must be best,
  because they are thy will!
  then all i want—o do thou grant
  this one request of mine!—
  since to enjoy thou dost deny,
  assist me to resign.