| Address to the toothache |
 |
ADDRESS TO THE TOOTHACHE Toothache’s not much fun. Robert Burns had sore teeth few
times in his life and wrote Address to the Toothache about his
experiences, performed for Scots Hoose by Brooke Walker. The poem shows how bad
toothache can be and reminds us to brush our teeth.  Address to the Toothache - the poem
|   |
Address to the Tooth-ache by Robert Burns
My curse upon your venom'd stang.
That shoots my tortur'd gums alang,
And thro my lug gies monie a twang
Wi gnawin vengeance,
Tearin my nerves wi bitter pang,
Like rackin engines!
That shoots my tortur'd gums alang,
And thro my lug gies monie a twang
Wi gnawin vengeance,
Tearin my nerves wi bitter pang,
Like rackin engines!
Aw doon my beard the slavers trickle,
I throw the wee stools o'er the mickle.
While roond the fire the giglets keckle,
To see me lowp.
And ravin mad, I wish a heckle
Were i' their dowp!
I throw the wee stools o'er the mickle.
While roond the fire the giglets keckle,
To see me lowp.
And ravin mad, I wish a heckle
Were i' their dowp!
When fevers burn, or ague freezes,
Rheumatics gnaw, or colic squeezes,
Oor neebors sympathise to ease us,
Wi pityin moan;
But thee! - thou hell o a' diseases -
They mock oor groan!
Rheumatics gnaw, or colic squeezes,
Oor neebors sympathise to ease us,
Wi pityin moan;
But thee! - thou hell o a' diseases -
They mock oor groan!
Of aw the numerous human dools -
Ill-hairsts, daft bargains, cutty-stools,
Or worthy freens laid i' the mools,
Sad sicht to see!
The tricks o knaves, or fash o fools -
Thou bear'st the gree!
Ill-hairsts, daft bargains, cutty-stools,
Or worthy freens laid i' the mools,
Sad sicht to see!
The tricks o knaves, or fash o fools -
Thou bear'st the gree!
Whare'er that place be priests caw Hell,
Whare aw the tones o misery yell,
And ranked plagues their numbers tell,
In dreidfu raw,
Thou, Toothache, surely bear'st the bell,
Amang them aw!
Whare aw the tones o misery yell,
And ranked plagues their numbers tell,
In dreidfu raw,
Thou, Toothache, surely bear'st the bell,
Amang them aw!
O thou grim, mischief-makin chiel,
That gars the notes o discord squeel,
Till human kind aft dance a reel
In gore, a shoe-thick,
Gie aw the faes o Scotland's weal
A towmond's toothache!
That gars the notes o discord squeel,
Till human kind aft dance a reel
In gore, a shoe-thick,
Gie aw the faes o Scotland's weal
A towmond's toothache!