To A Haggis

[The haggis is a dish peculiar to Scotland, composed of minced offal of mutton, mixed with oatmeal and suet, and boiled in a sheep's stomach.  The following composition was first published in the Scots Magazine for January, 1787.]

FAIR fa' your honest sonsie face,                                                befall, plump
Great chieftain o' the puddin' race!
Aboon them a' ye tak' your place,
                  Painch, tripe, or thairm:                                              paunch, gut
Weel are ye wordy of a grace                                                       worthy
                  As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill                                                 would
                    In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
                    Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic labour dight,                                                    wipe
And cut you up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
                     Like ony ditch;
And then, oh what a glorious sight,
                     Warm-reekin', rich!

First three verses taken from "To A Haggis" ~ THE POETICAL WORKS OF ROBERT BURNS
edited by John and Angus MacPherson, London: WALTER SCOTT.

Date published not stated.  Personal inscription January 7, 1895.