Poet's Corner

"A Red, Red Rose"

Robert Burns

Poem explanation

1    O my Luve's like a red, red rose,



        That's newly sprung in June:



     O my Luve's like the melodie



        That's sweetly play'd in tune.





5    As fair art thou, my bonnie 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,



10      And the rocks melt wi' the sun:



     And I will luve thee still, my Dear,



        While the sands o' life shall run. 





     And fare thee weel, my only Luve!  



        And fare thee weel, awhile!



15   And I will come again, my Luve,



        Tho' it were ten thousand mile!

Source: Exploring Poetry, Gale, 1997.