THE opening verses of one of Burns's most popular poems.

Later in the piece he changes tack, to moralise about humankind, though not in the memorable way of To a Mouse.

To a Mountain-Daisy, On turning one down, with the Plough, in April 1786

Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r,

Thou's met me in an evil hour;

For I maun crush amang the stoure

Thy slender stem:

To spare thee now is past my pow'r

Thou bonie gem.

Alas! It's no thy neebor sweet,

The bonie Lark, companion meet!

Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet!

Wi's spreckl'd breast,

When upward-springing, blythe, to greet

The purpling East.

Cauld blew the bitter-biting North

Upon thy early, humble birth;

Yet cheerfully thou glinted forth

Amid the storm,

Scarce rear'd above the Parent-earth

Thy tender form.