Author: Algernon Charles Swinburne

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    There's mony a man loves land and life,
    Loves life and land and fee;
    And mony a man loves fair women,
    But never a man loves me, my love,
    But never a man loves me.
    O weel and weel for a' lovers,
    I wot weel may they be;
    And weel and weel for a' fair maidens,
    But aye mair woe for me, my love,
    But aye mair woe for me.
    O weel be wi' you, ye sma' flowers,
    Ye flowers and every tree;
    And weel be wi' you, a' birdies,
    But teen and tears wi' me, my love,
    But teen and tears wi' me.
    O weel be yours, my three brethren,
    And ever weel be ye;
    Wi' deeds for doing and loves for wooing,
    But never a love for me, my love,
    But never a love for me.
    And weel be yours, my seven sisters,
    And good love-days to see,
    And long life-days and true lovers,
    But never a day for me, my love,
    But never a day for me.
    Good times wi' you, ye bauld riders,
    By the hieland and the lee;
    And by the leeland and by the hieland
    It's weary times wi' me, my love,
    It's weary times wi' me.
    Good days wi' you, ye good sailors,
    Sail in and out the sea;
    And by the beaches and by the reaches
    It's heavy days wi' me, my love,
    It's heavy days wi' me.
    I had his kiss upon my mouth,
    His bairn upon my knee;
    I would my soul and body were twain,
    And the bairn and the kiss wi' me, my love,
    And the bairn and the kiss wi' me.
    The bairn down in the mools, my dear,
    O saft and saft lies she;
    I would the mools were ower my head,
    And the young bairn fast wi' me, my love,
    And the young bairn fast wi' me.
    The father under the faem, my dear,
    O sound and sound sleeps he;
    I would the faem were ower my face,
    And the father lay by me, my love,
    And the father lay by me.
    I would the faem were ower my face,
    Or the mools on my ee-bree;
    And waking-time with a' lovers,
    But sleeping-time wi' me, my love,
    But sleeping-time wi' me.
    I would the mools were meat in my mouth,
    The saut faem in my ee;
    And the land-worm and the water-worm
    To feed fu' sweet on me, my love,
    To feed fu' sweet on me.
    My life is sealed with a seal of love,
    And locked with love for a key;
    And I lie wrang and I wake lang,
    But ye tak' nae thought for me, my love,
    But ye tak' nae thought for me.
    We were weel fain of love, my dear,
    O fain and fain were we;
    It was weel with a' the weary world,
    But O, sae weel wi' me, my love,
    But O, sae weel wi' me.
    We were nane ower mony to sleep, my dear,
    I wot we were but three;
    And never a bed in the weary world
    For my bairn and my dear and me, my love,
    For my bairn and my dear and me.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem powerfully explores themes of longing, sorrow, and unrequited love, punctuated by a yearning for companionship and connection that remains unfulfilled. The speaker's heartfelt lament is underscored by a melancholic tone that permeates the piece, with vivid imagery and the use of repetition further enhancing the emotive quality of the narrative.

The structure of the poem, with its constant return to the refrain "my love", serves to underscore the speaker's isolation and unfulfilled desires. The use of Scottish dialect adds a layer of authenticity and cultural specificity to the poem, grounding it in a particular place and time. This dialect, while potentially difficult for some readers, contributes to the poem's unique voice and tone.

The recurring contrast between the happiness of others and the speaker's own sorrow is a standout feature of the poem. This comparison serves to heighten the speaker's sense of isolation and unfulfilled longing. The description of nature and various types of people—lovers, fair maidens, sailors, riders—all enjoying their lives while the speaker suffers, paints a vivid picture of her loneliness.

The poem also employs powerful metaphors, such as the "seal of love" and the "key" of love, to depict the speaker's emotional state and her inability to escape her circumstances. The longing for death as a release from her pain is a poignant portrayal of her despair. The poet skilfully uses these devices to evoke empathy in the reader, making this an emotionally resonant piece of work.