Thou lingering star, with less'ning ray, <br /> That lov'st to greet the early morn, <br />Again thou usherast in the day <br /> My Mary from my soul was torn. <br />O Mary, dear departed shade <br /> Where is thy place of blissful rest? <br />See'st thou thy lover lowly laid? <br /> Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast? <br /> <br />That sacred hour can I forget? <br /> Can I forget the hallow'd grove <br />Where, by the winding Ayr, we met, <br /> To live one day of parting love? <br />Eternity cannot efface <br /> Those records dear of transports past, <br />Thy image at our last embrace--- <br /> Ah! little thought we 'twas our last! <br /> <br />Ayr, gurgling, kiss'd his pebbled shore, <br /> O'erhung with wild-woods, thickening green; <br />The fragrant birch and hawthorn hoar, <br /> Twin'd amorous round the raptur'd scene; <br />The flowers sprang wanton to be prest <br /> The birds sang love on every spray <br />Till too, too soon, the glowing west, <br /> Proclaim'd the speed of winged day. <br /> <br />Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes, <br /> And fondly broods with miser-care; <br />Time but th' impression stronger makes, <br /> As streams their channels deeper wear. <br />O Mary! dear departed shade! <br /> Where is thy place of blissful rest? <br />See'st thou thy lover lowly laid? <br /> Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/thou-lingering-star/
