SUMMONS TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE BURNS' ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY.*

To WILLIAM M`LAREN.
1805.

KING GEORDIE issues out his summons,
Tae ca his bairns, the Lairds an Commons,
Tae creesh the nation's moolie-heels,
An butter Commerce' rusty wheels,
An see what new, what untried tax,
Will lie the easiest on oor backs.

The priest convenes his scandal court,
Tae ken what houghmagandie sport
Has been gaun on within the parish
Since last they met,—their funds tae cherish.

But I, the servant of Apollo,
Whase mandates I am proud tae follow,—
He bids me warn you as the friend
Of Burns's fame, that ye'll attend
Neist Friday e'en, in Luckie Wricht's,
Tae spend the best—the wale o nichts ;
Sae, under pain o ha'f-a-merk
Ye'll come, as signed by me, the Clerk.

*This poetical invitation from the Clerk of the Burns' Anniversary Society convening a meeting, first appeared in the Glasgow periodical called the Selector, Vol. I., page 195, with the signature MODESTUS.—Ed.

The 'clerk' was, in fact, Robert Tannahill.

Poem of the month was selected by the Scottish Poetry Library.