Though ’Twere Then Thousand Smiles

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem 

The Scots have learned to smile at sadness.  Where

Else?  Maybe happiness can come apart

From sorrow for the Sassenach.  In Ayr

The wintry beach in summer chills the heart

And then it thinks of Rabbie who escaped

To everywhere else and died an aged young

Man.  Poetry and fame—and, yes, he scraped

Some kids inside his lovers having sung

About adultery’s toys—but then his life

Became the drudgery of forms for work.

In death his gravestone chosen by his wife

Was eloquently plain beside the kirk.

  His son was born—four days after he died.

    Scots love to make defeat their faithful bride.

~ Phillip Whidden