A Red, Red Rose

As the Burns Party is approaching later this month, I've been spending time reading through various Burns poetry to find special nuggets to share at the party. The more I've read, the more enchanted I've become with his poetry.

I was never much into poetry as a younger person, but as I've matured, I have grown to appreciate the beauty of the language and the sheer grace of some of these poems.

I've decided to highlight some of my favorites in the days preceding the party. For any of you poetry haters out there (I'm thinking of you, Dad!), feel free to tune out. Otherwise, I hope you'll take a moment to relax and enjoy the splendor of some of these poems.

I will note, when reading Burns' poetry, that the old Scots language can be a bit hard to understand. However, I find that if you recite the poem aloud, the beauty of the words fill in any semantic gaps, and the larger meaning becomes clearer through the context of the overall poem.

(And if that doesn't work, I can always look up the words in the back of my Burns glossary.)

This first one is one of his most famous, and it truly is a lovely poem. It makes me think of my darling wife. (or maybe Frank?!)


A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns

O my luve is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
My love is like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonny lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only love!
And fare thee weel, awhile!
And I will come again, my love
Though it were ten thousand mile.