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