Poems and songs :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ah! Willie now is gane frae me,
Frae Annie gane afar,
An' to the saft delights o' love
Preferred the din o' war.
Nae mair at e'en, wi' heartsome glee,
Thegither we are seen;
Nae mair we daff amang the lave,
Or wander o'er the green.

Now in a far aff foreign land,
My comely Willie strays,
An' soon, alake! the chance o' war
May end his youthfu' days:
But weel I ken, though far awa,
His faithfu' breast does burn

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Wi' glowing love, while here I lang
An' sigh for his return.

How dreary was that day to me,
Whan Willie gaed awa,
An' left me here!—the grief, I thought,
Wad break my heart in twa.
O may he lang, 'mang deadly faes,
Frae skaith be keepit free,
Till he again, wi' tearfu' joy,
Shall peacefu' Scotia see!

Ye gentle breezes, saftly blaw,
Ye gales, auspicious prove,
An' fill the wide-spread milk-white sails,
An' waft me back my love!
Till then, I'll seek the silent glade,
Or flowery-selvaged burn,
An' wi' the lanely birdies roam,
An' sigh for his return.