In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
This Is probably the most famous stanza of this poem which was written by the Scottish poet,
Robert Burns. It is titled:
"To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785".
(Translation:
But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes of mice and men
Go oft awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!)
A darling mouse! Can’t go wrong with a stanza or two of Robert Burns either. Very nice. 1785 - can you imagine! Seems like another planet entirely, those centuries past.
A nice poem from Robert Burns. Nice photo of your mouse in the tree. Remember to remove him before dismantling the greens or it may have the same end as the mouse in the poem.
I love this photo, and of course the poem. One of my mum's oft-used expressions when things went wrong ... just an 'aye, the best laid schemes' .... She needed add no more!
Thanks again for commenting.
Ian
I have never read the whole poem but, often use the phrase "the best laid plans of mice & men."
Thanks. The whole poem is great reading.
Thanks Kathy. The mouse is safe now.
Thanks. I wonder when people say “the best laid plans of mice and men” really know where it come from!! 😀😀😀
Thanks for commenting. The mouse is safe now. In the poem the mouse also is free.
And thanks for getting it on the popular page.
Thanks for commenting.
Here’s tae us wha’s like us, gae few and they’re a deed.
Thanks Corinne.