Classic Poem

The rowing waves, the ocean tides,
Are changefu' baith at e'en and morn, —
Like sunshine and its following shade
Upon the dew-wet, yellow corn:
The burn sings saftly o'er the lea,
Where ance it like a torrent ran;
But a' are steadfastness itsel'
When likened to the heart o' man.

Ane sought my love, when, in my teens,
A thoughtless lassie, I was gay;
I trusted, as a woman trusts,
And made his love my bosom's stay;
And when, to gather gowd, he gaed
To some far land ayont the main,
I lang'd at e'en, I lang'd at morn,
To see my lov'd one back again.

I ne'er gaed near the youngster's dance;
But when the light o' day grew dim,
I sought the broomy trysting knowe,
Where quietness dwelt, to think on him.
Years came, an' gaed; but hame to me
He hied na' as he should ha'e done:
But, O! I ne'er mistrusted him —
His name I cherish'd late an' soon.

My father and my mither baith
Were laid aneath the cauldrife yird,
And I was left alane, alane,
A mourning and a mateless bird.
He came at length, — and O! my heart
Was glad as heart can ever be, —
He came wi' a' his treasured love,
He came to gi'e it a' to me.

I heard his foot on my door-stane —
He stood upon my lanely floor —
I gazed upon the manly form
That did my lassie's heart allure;
And bitter thoughts came in my breast:
For pride was dancing in the e'e
Whence love should ha'e been smiling sweet
To bless, and glad, and comfort me.

I saw his glance o' meikle scorn
Upon my lanely maiden hame;
And O! I thought my heart wad break
While laigh I murmur'd forth his name.
He gazed upon my alter'd form, —
I kent what in his e'e did gleam:
He thought na, in his cruelty,
The change was wrought by waiting him.

He cauldly spake o' youthfu' days;
And o' his plighted faith spake he;
And syne I scorn'd the world's slave,
And proudly told him he was free.
He turned him wi' a mocking smile,
And offer'd gowd and offered gear:
And then I sought in vain to dee, —
For this I cou'dna, cou'dna bear.

Truth, love, and woman's faith, in youth,
A dwellin' place had biggit me, —
A hame where joy upon my heart
Had blinkit sunshine wondrouslie;
But falsehood came, and to the earth
That palace o' the soul did fa':
The woman's trustin' faith was gane,
And truth and love were far awa'.

I bared my breast beneath a ray
Sent frae love's bonnie simmer sun;
But, ere I wist, cauld winter cam',
And hope and joy gaed one by one.
I maybe loved a thing o' earth
O'er weel, and heaven burst the chain; —
I ken na; but my heart is sair,
And age is comin' cauld and lane!