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"The best laid plans of mice and men
Gang aft agley, (1),
And leave us naught but grief and pain,
For promised joy.

Still thou art blest, compared with me;
The present only touches thee,
But och! I backward cast my e'e
On prospects drear!
And forward, though I canna see,
I guess an' fear!"

(From Robert Burns's "To A Mouse")

(1) often go awry



Text with modern translation may be found here: www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/554.htm

( Text of poem here: )