Robert Burns (1759-96 You do not have to be Scottish to think he was one of the greatest poets in the world. He was good at music, too.)

from The Twa Dogs

A picture of two great dogs, one grand, one scruffy, friends.

The first I'll name, they ca'ed him Caesar, Was keepit for 'his Honour's' pleasure; His hair, his size, his mouth, his lugs Shewed he was nane o' Scotland's dogs, But whelpit some place far abroad Where sailors gang to fish for cod.

ears

His lockèd, lettered, braw brass collar Shewed him the gentleman and scholar; But tho' he was o' high degree, The fient a pride - nae pride had he, But wad hae spent an hour caressin' even wi' a tinkler gypsy's messan. At kirk or market, mill or smiddie Nae tawted tyke, tho' e'er sae duddie, But he wad stand, as glad to see him, And stroaned on stanes and hillocks wi' him.

devil a bit mongrel shabby cur, unkempt urinated

The tither was a ploughman's collie, A rhyming, ranting, raving billie, Wha for his friend an' comrade had him, And in his freaks had Luath ca'ed him, After some dog in Highland sang, Was made lang syne - Lord knows how lang. He was a gash an' faithfu' tyke As ever lap a sheugh or dyke. Nae doubt but they were fain o' ither And unco pack an' thick thegither; Wi' social nose whiles snuffed an' snowket; Whiles mice an' moudiewarts they howket; Whiles scoured awa' in lang excursion, An' worried ither in diversion, Till tired at length wi' many a farce, They set them down upon their arse An' there began a lang digression About the 'lords of the creation'.

wise ditch , wall fond close friends moles, dug up joke, play

Caesar and Luath now have a long talk about the different lives led by rich people and poor people. They decide that humans are a terrible lot, and go home -

By this, the sun was out of sight An' darker gloamin' brought the night, When up they gat and shook their lugs, Rejoiced they were na men but dogs, An' each took off his several way, Resolved to meet some ither day.