Masoch and Sade
Turned into ane
Havoc ha’e made
O’ my a’e brain.

Weel, gin it’s Sade
Let it be said
They’ve made me mad
—That’ll da’e instead.

But it’s no’ instead
In Scots, but insteed.
—The life they’ve led
In my puir heid.

But aince I’ve seen
In the thistle here
A’ that they’ve been
I’ll aiblins wun clear.

   Thistleless fule,
   You’ll ha’e nocht left
   But the hole frae which
   Life’s struggle is reft!…

 

from A Drunk Man Looks at Throbbing Thistle