Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
V. Death and BereavementHighland Mary
Robert Burns (17591796)Y
The castle o’ Montgomery,
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!
There Simmer first unfald her robes
And there she langest tarry!
For there I took the last fareweel
O’ my sweet Highland Mary.
How rich the hawthorn’s blossom!
As underneath their fragrant shade
I clasped 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.
Our parting was fu’ tender;
And pledging aft to meet again,
We tore ourselves 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!
I aft hae kissed sae fondly!
And closed for aye the sparkling glance
That dwelt on me sae kindly!
And mould’ring now in silent dust
That heart that lo’ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom’s core
Shall live my Highland Mary.