The Kenmore Hotel

Robert Burns Poem

Poem by Robert Burns written on the chimney of the bar.

Admiring nature in her wildest grace
These northern scenes with weary feet I trace
O’er many a winding dale and painful steep
The haunt of coveyed grouse and timid sheep
My savage journey curious I persue
Till famed Breadalbane opens to my view
The meeting cliffs each deep sunk glen devides
The woods wild scattered clothe their ample sides
The outstreching lake embosomed ‘mong the hills
The eye with wonder & amazement fills
The tay meand’ring sweet in infant pride
The palace rising on its verdant side
The lawns wood fringed in Nature’s native taste
The hillocks dropt in Nature’s careless haste
The arches striding o’er the new born stream
The village glittering in the noontide beam
Poetic ardours in my bosom swell
Lone wandering by the hermit’s mossy cell
The sweeping theatre of hanging woods
The incessant roar of headlong tumbling floods
Here Poesie might wake her heav’n-taught lyre
And look through nature with creative fire
Here to the wrongs of Fate half reconciled
Misfortune’s lightened steps might wander wild
And disappointment in these lonely bounds
Find balm to soothe her bitter rankling wounds
And heart felt Grief might Heavenward stretch her scan
And injured Worth forget and pardon man