1793 Poem, Samuel Thomson, ‘On the Death of a Taylor’
Author: Samuel Thomson
Date: 1793
Source: Poem: ‘On the Death of a Taylor’’, from Poems, on Different Subjects, partly in the Scottish Dialect by Samuel Thomson (Belfast: printed for the author, 1793).
Comments: Samuel Thomson (1766–1816) from Lyles Hill near Templepatrick in South Antrim was the editor of the ‘Poets’ Corner’ in the Belfast United Irishman newspaper Northern Star until the paper was closed down in 1797. He exchanged poems with, and visited, Robert Burns, and published three books containing Ulster-Scots poetry — in 1793, 1799 and 1806. An account of his life and poetry can be found in the Introduction to The Country Rhymes of Samuel Thomson, by Philip Robinson and Ernest Scott (Belfast, 1992).
Doc. ref. no.: USLS/TB/Poetry/1700-1799/016
On the Death of a TAYLOR.
Now Heck’s awa, the king o’ leers,
Wha aft by wicked taunts an’ jeers,
Has set together by the ears,
Douce fok at strife,
Grim Death has clipt wi’ his gleg sheers,
The thread o’ life!
Death wha the nimblest ay has catch’d,
An’ hitherto the strong o’ermatch’d,
Wi’ a double thread his fate has stitch’d,
’Tis press’d an’ grippit,
The mortal sure wad seem bewitch’d,
Wad try to rip it.
Whan he the tyrant comin’ saw,
He gied his hips the farewell cla’
Then shrugging up a dismal thra’
Wi’ chaps ajar:
His nimble spirit springs awa’,
“It maks na whar.”