The Poetry of Robert Burns Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson |
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| III. |
HOW CAN MY POOR HEART |
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 | The Poetry of Robert Burns |  |
HOW CAN MY POOR HEART
I
How can my poor heart be gladWhen absent from my sailor lad?
How can I the thought forego—
He's on the seas to meet the foe?
Let me wander, let me rove,
Still my heart is with my love.
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day
Are with him that's far away.
On the seas and far away,
On stormy seas and far away—
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day,
Are ay with him that's far away.
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II
When in summer noon I faint,As weary flocks around me pant,
Haply in this scorching sun
My sailor's thund'ring at his gun.
Bullets, spare my only joy!
Bullets, spare my darling boy!
Fate, do with me what you may,
Spare but him that's far away!
On the seas and far away,
On stormy seas and far away—
Fate, do with me what you may,
Spare but him that's far away!
III
At the starless, midnight hourWhen Winter rules with boundless power,
As the storms the forests tear,
And thunders rend the howling air,
Listening to the doubling roar
Surging on the rocky shore,
All I can—I weep and pray
For his weal that's far away.
On the seas and far away,
On stormy seas and far away,
All I can—I weep and pray
For his weal that's far away.
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IV
Peace, thy olive wand extendAnd bid wild War his ravage end;
Man with brother man to meet,
And as brother kindly greet!
Then may Heaven with prosperous gales
Fill my sailor's welcome sails,
To my arms their charge convey,
My dear lad that's far away!
On the seas and far away,
On stormy seas and far away,
To my arms their charge convey,
My dear lad that's far away!
| The Poetry of Robert Burns | |