to a louse, on seeing one on a lady's bonnet, at church

ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?

your impudence protects you sairly;

i canna say but ye strunt rarely,

owre gauze and lace;

tho', faith! i fear ye dine but sparely

on sic a place.

ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,

detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,

how daur ye set your fit upon her—

sae fine a lady?

gae somewhere else and seek your dinner

on some poor body.

swith! in some beggar's haffet squattle;

there ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle,

wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,

in shoals and nations;

whaur horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle

your thick plantations.

now haud you there, ye're out o' sight,

below the fatt'rels, snug and tight;

na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,

till ye've got on it—

the verra tapmost, tow'rin height

o' miss' bonnet.