Castle Gordon

written in 1787

Streams that glide in orient plains, Never bound by Winter's chains; Glowing here on golden sands, There immixed with foulest stains From Tyranny's empurpled hands: These, their richly gleaming waves, I leave to tyrants and their slaves; Give me the stream that sweetly laves The banks by Castle Gordon. Spicy forests, ever gay, Shading from the burning ray Hapless wretches sold to toil; Or the ruthless Native's way, Bent on slaughter, blood, and spoil: Woods that ever verdant wave, I leave the tyrant and the slave; Give me the groves that lofty brave The storms, by Castle Gordon. Wildly here without control, Nature reigns and rules the whole; In that sober, pensive mood, Dearest to the feeling soul, She plants the forest, pours the flood: Life's poor day I'll musing rave, And find at night a sheltering cave, Where waters flow and wild woods wave By bonie Castle Gordon.