Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Highland Mary
1Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
2 The castle o' Montgomery,
3Green be your woods and fair your flowers,
4 Your waters never drumlie!
5There simmer first unfauld her robes,
6 And there the langest tarry;
7For there I took the last fareweel,
8 O' my sweet Highland Mary.
9How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk,
10 How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
11As underneath their fragrant shade
12 I clasp'd her to my bosom!
13The golden hours, on angel wings,
14 Flew o'er me and my dearie;
15For dear to me as light and life,
16 Was my sweet Highland Mary.
17Wi' monie a vow and lock'd embrace
18 Our parting was fu' tender;
19And, pledging aft to meet again,
20 We tore oursels asunder;
21But O! fell death's untimely frost,
22 That nipt my flower sae early!
23Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay,
24 That wraps my Highland Mary!
25O pale, pale now, those rosy lips,
26 I aft hae kiss'd sae fondly!
27And closed for aye the sparkling glance,
28 That dwelt on me sae kindly!
29And mould'ring now in silent dust,
30 That heart that lo'ed me dearly!
31But still within my bosom's core
32 Shall live my Highland Mary.
Notes
1] Sent to Thomson, Nov. 14, 1792. For a discussion of Burns and "Highland Mary" see F. B. Snyder, The Life of Robert Burns, 1932.
4] drumlie: turbid.
9] birk: birch.
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). Vol. II (1799). Facs. edn.: Scolar Press, 1991. M 1746 J6853 1991 MUSI.
First publication date:
1799
RPO poem editor: G. G. Falle
RP edition: 3RP 2.319.
Recent editing: 4:2002/3/15
Rhyme: abcbdefe
Other poems by Robert Burns
