John Barleycorn
By Robert Burns
There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough'd him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on,
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris'd them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong;
His head weel arm'd wi' pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
Available at: classiclit.about.com/library/b-etexts/rburns/bl-rburns-johnabarley.htm. (Excerpt)
Glossary:
- Hae - to have
- Oath - A solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object as witness
- Sultry -Very humid and hot
After reading the poem, it's possible to say that: