Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Ae Fond Kiss
1Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
2Ae fareweel, and then forever!
3Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
4Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
5Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
6While the star of hope she leaves him?
7Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me;
8Dark despair around benights me.
9I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
10Naething could resist my Nancy;
11But to see her was to love her;
12Love but her, and love forever.
13Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
14Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
15Never met--or never parted--
16We had ne'er been broken-hearted.
17Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
18Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!
19Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
20Peace. enjoyment, love, and pleasure!
21Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
22Ae fareweel, alas, forever!
23Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
24Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!
Notes
1] Burns sent this poem in a letter of December 27th, 1791, to a friend, Agnes Maclehose, poetically called Clarinda: "I have just ten minutes before the post goes, and these I shall employ in sending you some songs I have just been composing to different tunes for the Collection of Songs." It was published in Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, Vol. iv, in 1792.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: James Ingram, The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1803). IV. 1792. Facs. edn. Scolar Press, 1991. M 1746 J6853 1991 MUSI.
First publication date:
1792
RPO poem editor: W. J. Alexander, William Hall Clawson
RP edition: RP (1912), 96-97.
Recent editing: 4:2002/3/15
Rhyme: couplets
Other poems by Robert Burns
