burlesquement for the absence of william creech, publisher

auld chuckie reekie's sair distrest,

down droops her ance weel burnish'd crest,

nae joy her bonie buskit nest

can yield ava,

her darling bird that she lo'es best—

willie's awa!

o willie was a witty wight,

and had o' things an unco' sleight,

auld reekie aye he keepit tight,

and trig an' braw:

but now they'll busk her like a fright,—

willie's awa!

the stiffest o' them a' he bow'd,

the bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;

they durst nae mair than he allow'd,

that was aw:

we've lost a birkie weel worth gowd;

willie's awa!

now gawkies, tawpies, gowks and fools,

frae colleges and boarding schools,

may sprout like simmer puddock-stools

in glen or shaw;

he wha could brush them down to mools—

willie's awa!

the brethren o' the merce-chaumer

may mourn their loss wi' doolfu' mour;

he was a dictionar and grammar

among them a';

i fear they'll now mak mony a stammer;

willie's awa!

nae mair we see his levee door

philosophers and poets pour,

and toothy critics by the score,

in bloody raw!

the adjutant o' a' the core—

willie's awa!