EPITAPH ON JOHN DOVE, INNKEEPER
Written by Robert Burns in 1785 for John Dove (or Dow), landlord of the Whitefoord Arms in Mauchline. It is thought that John Dove originally came from Paisley.
“Here lies Johnie Pigeon;
What was his religion?
Whae'er desires to ken,
To some other warl'
Maun follow the carl,
For here Johnie Pigeon had nane!
Strong ale was ablution,
Small beer persecution,
A dram was memento mori;
But a full-flowing bowl
Was the saving his soul,
And port was celestial glory.”
https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/epitaph-on-john-dove-innkeeper