Classic Poem

You promised to meet me at e'en
Beside the river bank so green
You promised & you've never been
Or ever told me why
The white thorn then was in the bud
Now nuts have ripen'd in the wood
Come love again
Lost vows explain
Your absence makes me sigh

The white thorn gan to spread their leaves
Im dis-appointed these two eves
True love they say never deceives
You should not promise wrong
The corn had not began to shoot
Now it is ripe and so is fruit
And on this hill
Fond love I will
My visits still continue long

The nuts are falling frae the lims
I'm picking them like luve i' dreams
How white & flurried Ailsy seems
To pass me on the way
A bramble caught her Tartan gown
Eer she the broken wall stept down
And all her charms
Were in my arms
When I caught her on that day

She blush'd as sweet Briar rose within
Syne white as lilys all her skin
The sweet briar blushes all went in
And Ailsy sigh'd to say
She'd been to service all the year
'Mong solemn folk on Island drear
The Solway foam
She cross'd frae home
And left young Jamie far away

Young Jamie gie[d] her nuts to crack
And lap't his arm around her back
And gave her cheek a hearty smack
My Ailsy dear said he
You've well explain'd your absence a
And now on[e] payment stands for a
I'll wed thee deary
And bed thee deary
Then thou and love my ain shall be