Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BRAES OF YARROW, by JOHN LOGAN (1748-1788)



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BRAES OF YARROW, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thy braes were bonny, yarrow stream
Last Line: And then with thee I'll sleep in yarrow.
Variant Title(s): Yarrow Stream
Subject(s): Death; Yarrow (water), Scotland; Dead, The


Thy braes were bonny, Yarrow stream!
When first on them I met my lover;
Thy braes how dreary, Yarrow stream!
When now thy waves his body cover.
Forever now, O Yarrow stream!
Thou art to me a stream of sorrow;
For never on thy banks shall I
Behold my love, the flower of Yarrow.
He promised me a milk-white steed,
To bear me to his father's bowers;
He promised me a little page,
To 'squire me to his father's towers
He promised me a wedding-ring, --
The wedding-day was fixed to-morrow;
Now he is wedded to his grave,
Alas, his watery grave, in Yarrow!
Sweet were his words when last we met;
My passion I as freely told him!
Clasped in his arms, I little thought
That I should nevermore behold him!
Scarce was he gone, I saw his ghost;
It vanished with a shriek of sorrow;
Thrice did the water-wraith ascend,
And gave a doleful groan through Yarrow.
His mother from the window looked
With all the longing of a mother;
His little sister weeping walked
The greenwood path to meet her brother.
They sought him all the forest thorough,
They only saw the cloud of night,
They only heard the roar of Yarrow!
No longer from thy window look,
Thou hast no son, thou tender mother!
No longer walk, thou lovely maid;
Alas, thou hast no more a-brother!
No longer seek him east or west,
And search no more the forest thorough;
For, wandering in the night so dark,
He fell a lifeless corse in Yarrow.
The tear shall never leave my cheek,
No other youth shall be my marrow;
I'll seek thy body in the stream,
And then with thee I'll sleep in Yarrow.




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