Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BRAES O' GLENIFFER by ROBERT TANNAHILL

First Line: KEEN BLAWS THE WIND O'ER THE BRAES O' GLENIFFER
Last Line: THE DARK DAYS O' WINTER WERE SUMMER TO ME!
Subject(s): ABSENCE; GRIEF; WINTER; SEPARATION; ISOLATION; SORROW; SADNESS;
Keen blaws the wind o'er the braes o' Gleniffer,
The auld castle turrets are cover'd wi' snaw,
How changed frae the time when I met wi' my lover,
Amang the broom brushes by Stanley green shaw.
The wild flowers o' simmer were spread a' sae bonnie,
The mavis sang sweet frae the green birken tree;
But far to the camp they ha'e march'd my dear Johnnie,
And now it is winter wi' nature and me.

Then ilk thing around us was blythesome and cheerie,
Then ilk thing around us was bonnie and braw;
Now naething is heard but the wind whistling drearie,
And naething is seen but the wide-spreading snaw.
The trees are a' bare, and the birds mute and dowie,
They shake the cauld drift frae their wings as they flee;
And chirp out their plaints, seeming wae for my Johnnie;
'Tis winter wi' them and 'tis winter wi' me.

You cauld sleety cloud skiff's alang the bleak mountain,
And shakes the dark firs on the stey rocky brae;
While down the deep glen bawls ther snaw-flooded fountain,
That murmur'd sae sweet to my laddie and me.
'Tis no its loud roar on the wintry winds swellin',
"Tis no the cauld blast brings the tears to my e'e,
For O! gin I saw but my bonnie Scotch callin',
The dark days o' winter were summer to me!



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