Author: Robert Burns

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Tune - "Death of Captain Cook."


I.

        Thou lingering star, with less'ning ray,
            That lov'st to greet the early morn,
        Again thou usherest in the day
            My Mary from my soul was torn.
        O Mary! dear departed shade!
            Where is thy place of blissful rest?
        Seest thou thy lover lowly laid?
            Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?

II.

        That sacred hour can I forget,
            Can I forget the hallow'd grove,
        Where by the winding Ayr we met,
            To live one day of parting love!
        Eternity cannot efface
            Those records dear of transports past;
        Thy image at our last embrace;
            Ah! little thought we 'twas our last!

III.

        Ayr, gurgling, kiss'd his pebbled shore,
            O'erhung with wild woods, thick'ning green;
        The fragrant birch, and hawthorn, hoar,
            Twin'd am'rous round the raptured scene;
        The flow'rs sprang wanton to be prest,
            The birds sang love on every spray,
        Till too, too soon, the glowing west
            Proclaim'd the speed of winged day.

IV.

        Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes,
            And fondly broods with miser care!
        Time but th' impression stronger makes,
            As streams their channels deeper wear.
        My Mary, dear departed shade!
            Where is thy place of blissful rest?
        Seest thou thy lover lowly laid?
            Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?

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Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a haunting narrative of loss, love, and remembrance, primarily revolving around the themes of departed love and the enduring power of memory. The poet employs vivid imagery and sensory details to create a palpable sense of the personal and physical landscape of his past love.

The structure of the poem, divided into four sections, helps to chronicle the progression of the speaker's feelings from initial grief to fond remembrance and back to sorrow. The tone is somber and nostalgic, underscored by the repeated invocation of the departed "Mary," which also serves to personalize the loss.

The poet uses rich natural imagery as a metaphor for his emotions. The "lingering star," "winding Ayr," and "wild woods" not only set the romantic and idyllic scenery of their past encounters but also mirror his persistent longing and the wildness of his grief. These natural elements are intertwined with the speaker's memory, suggesting their inseparability.

The poet also excels in using literary devices such as personification and simile. For instance, in the phrase "Ayr, gurgling, kiss'd his pebbled shore," the river is personified as an active participant in the lovers' tryst. Similarly, the comparison of the strengthening of his memory to streams deepening their channels over time effectively conveys the intensifying impact of his loss.

Overall, this poem is a beautiful exploration of love, loss, and memory, using deeply evocative imagery and poignant language to convey a deeply felt personal tragedy.