"Dunlossit", Carluke. 19th April 1931

Dear Niece, it is my pridefu' boast
That little precious time were lost
In sendin' what we wanted most
particular
For--lang since--there arrived by post
Your Calendar.

And noo, I dinna need be blate
But freely join in keen debate
On great affairs o' Kirk and State
Recorded on it
The year, the month, the day and date
And very minute.

I therefore canna weel dae less
Than hearty thanks to you express
And though the same I fain wad stress
The muse is sullen
Although I may remind you Jess
I'm mair than willin'.

But first and foremost let me say
I hope you'll pardon lang delay
To even this--the present day
When weeks hae gane
But ah, my muse has gane astray
And helps me nane.

Indeed I've been extrordnar thrang
Frae monrnin' grey the whole day lang
Yet things persist in a' gaun wrang
[Like spinnin' rhyme]
But this is nae uncommion sang
At lambin' time.

For winds hae blawn frae North and East
And plain it is--to me--at least
That cauld has mair and mair increased
Its venom sting
That's guid for neither man nor beast
Sa late in Spring.

But folk the world ower complain
The seasons arena what we've seen
That April fields are seldom green
But sombre grey
And lambin' yowes get pinched and lean
And pine away.

Oor mind reflects on early buds
That burst to leaf in glens and woods
Neith sunny skies and fleecy clouds
Soon in April
And nature in her sweetest moods
Was pleased to smile.

But space seems mair than ever brief
Between the bud and ripened leaf
And feelins maist akin to grief
Come ower us a'
To see decay come like a theif
When doon they fa'.

Still this is merely nature's law
The common lot o' yin and a'
The day we may be brisk and braw
Maist free o' care
Alas, to answer soon the ca'
And be nae mair.

Yet still we hope again to see
The gowans dotted ower the lea
And hear yince mair the busy bee
That constant hums
Wi' weather as it used to be
When summer comes.

But 'mong the sheep--and gairden too
There's work awaitin' me to do
And, meantime I maun say adieu
And close my rhyme
To, maybe, take it up anew
Some ither time.

D.F.