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 />15Thy 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! 30 <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/to-mary-in-heaven/
