Love and Loss

It is Burns Night on Tuesday, but since I'm going to a wee soiree tonight in honour of our national poet, I thought I'd  post this heartbreaking poem.

Highland Mary (Mary Campbell) was the love of Robert Burns life.  They were due to sail away to start a new life in Jamaica.  Before he could meet with her at their port of departure in Greenock, Mary died of a fever in 1786.  She is buried here in Greenock.

Picture from Wikipedia

Highland Mary

Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery!
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie:
There Simmer first unfauld her robes,
And there the langest tarry;
For there I took the last Farewell
O'my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom'd the gay, green birk,
How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
As underneath their fragrant shade,
I clasp'd her to my bosom!
The golden Hours on angel wings,
Flew o'er me and my Dearie;
For dear to me, as light and life,
Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Wi' mony a vow, and lock'd embrace,
Our parting was fu' tender;
And, pledging aft to meet again,
We tore oursels asunder;
But oh! fell Death's untimely frost,
That nipt my Flower sae early!
Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay
That wraps my Highland Mary!

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips,
I aft hae kiss'd sae fondly!
And clos'd for aye, the sparkling glance
That dwalt on me sae kindly!
And mouldering now in silent dust,
That heart that lo'ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom's core

Shall live my Highland Mary.

Robert Burns

Isn't the last verse just heartbreaking!

Love, Liz