NOTE
"The Lum Hat wantin' the Croon" is published, with music, by
Mr. R. W. Pentland, Edinburgh, and it also appears in The British
Students' Song Book along with "The Pawky Duke." This latter
first appeared in St. Andrews University Bazaar Book, and is
included in Seekers after a City. "Macfadden and Macfee" was
contributed to Aberdeen University Alma Mater, and has been
reprinted in Alma Mater Anthology. Various of the other verses
have appeared in The Edinburgh Medical Journal and The Caledonian
Medical Journal.
D. R.
Not mine to let the hair grow long, and talk
In raptured accents of the Higher Things,
Of all the purple Polyanthus bears,
And beating wings.
(Oh no! Nothing of that sort!)
Ne'er have I languished on the lower slopes
Of sweet Parnassus in the thrice-dead years,
Chanting in fathoms of the fathomless
To kindred ears.
(Certainly not! No time for it!)
Nor mine the gift-O, gilded gift and grand!
To linger near the murmur of the Nine,
To mouth in music of the meaningless,
Nay! Never mine!
(That's so! Quite!)
But here to han'le the auld crambo-clink
On hame-owre themes weel-kent by Galen's tribe,
Regairdless o' what ither fowk may think
Or ca' the scribe!
(Ay! That's aboot it noo!)