Robert Fergusson (1750-1774)

Born in theCap and Feather Close, Jist aff the Royal Mile Son o aTarland scholar, Wi a gweed Scots tongue in his heid Schuled at St Andrew's Varsity, On a bursary frae his clan He'd tae support his mither, Eftir his faither deed His uncle he disowned him Forbes frae Auld Meldrum Toon Sae Robert wirked as a copyist Hard wirkin, aye heid doon In Embro his friens wir actors, Musicians, an booksellers Artists, castratos, publishers An theatre managers A member o the Cape Club, They met at a Craig's Close inn Sir Henry Raeburndined there Guid fellowship therein Bit ae night Robert hytered Doonstairs, a dreidfu faa A coorse knell cloored his foreheid It caad his wits awa He wis sent tae Auld Reekie's madhoose, Locked up an chyned tae a waa In a damp cauld cell. On the flair His bed wis tossed doon straa A frien frae his university Dr Duncan luiked on his face An he got a begeck fin he saw him He swore he'd cheenge thon place It wis ower late fur Robert He deid in the Bedlam there They tuik him oot fur beerial In an unmerked, unnamedlair Bit his brither poet, Burns Socht him oot an raised a stane An on it screived a epitaph Lat the warld ken his name An gin yer in Auld Reekie, Fin yer in the Canongate Ye'll meet wi Annand's statue: Rob strides oot, naethin blate!