Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene?

Robert Burns

1759 to 1796

Poem Image
Track 1

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Every 10th word

Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene?
I so found it full of pleasing charms?
Some of joy with draughts of ill between:
Some gleams sunshine 'mid renewing storms:
Is it departing pangs my alarms?
Or Death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode?
For guilt, guilt, my terrors are in arms;
I tremble to an angry God,
And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod.

Fain would I say, "Forgive my foul offence!"
promise never more to disobey;
But, should my Author again dispense,
Again I might desert fair virtue's way:
in folly's path might go astray;
Again exalt the and sink the man;
Then how should I for mercy pray,
Who act so counter heavenly mercy's plan?
sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran?

Thou, great Governor of all below!
If I may a lifted eye to Thee,
Thy nod can make tempest cease to blow,
Or still the tumult of raging sea:
With that controlling pow'r assist ev'n me
headlong furious passions to confine;
For all unfit I my pow'rs to be,
To rule their torrent in th' allowed line;
O, aid me with Thy help, Omnipotence Divine!