Braving Angry Winters Storms

By Robert Burns

Lyric Poem
    Tune - "Neil Gow's Lamentations for Abercairny." I.         Where, braving angry winter's storms,             The lofty Ochels rise,         Far in their shade my Peggy's charms             First blest my wondering eyes;         As one who by some savage stream,             A lonely gem surveys,         Astonish'd, doubly marks its beam,             With art's most polish'd blaze. II.         Blest be the wild, sequester'd shade,             And blest the day and hour,         Where Peggy's charms I first survey'd,             When first I felt their power!         The tyrant Death, with grim control,             May seize my fleeting breath;         But tearing Peggy from my soul             Must be a stronger death.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Lyric Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a poignant exploration of love and mortality, set against the backdrop of the natural world. The poet uses the landscape, specifically the Ochels and a wild, secluded shade, as a metaphor for the overpowering and transformative experience of love. The tone is both tender and melancholic, framing the speaker's love for Peggy as a bright, precious gem amidst the harsh winter storms, and a force so strong that its removal would be akin to death.

The poem's structure, divided into two eight-line stanzas, reflects its dual thematic concerns: the discovery of love, and the fear of its loss. The poet's use of personification, especially in the portrayal of Death as a grim tyrant, underscores the intensity of the speaker's emotional attachment. The repetition of the phrase "Peggy's charms" and the concept of "first" in both stanzas emphasizes the indelible impact of their first encounter. The poem ultimately serves as a celebration of love’s power to illuminate our lives, even in the face of inevitable mortality.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.