 | The Poetical Works of Robert Story |  |
The Bonnie Pink Flower.
1844
[_]
[The hill alluded to in the following lines is the Lanton Hill so often mentioned. I saw the flower and wrote the song in 1844. It has been set to music by my friend Waller, with accompaniments by Thirlwall.]
I cam to the hill whare a boy I had wander'd
An' high beat my heart when I traced it again!—
As up its steep side—now an auld man—I dander'd,
I stopp'd whare a bonnie Pink blossom'd its lane.
It seem'd a wee star lighted up amang heather!
My first thought said—“Pu' it, an' bring it away;”
But a tenderer pleaded—“How soon it wad wither!
O! leave it to bloom on its ain native brae!
An' high beat my heart when I traced it again!—
As up its steep side—now an auld man—I dander'd,
I stopp'd whare a bonnie Pink blossom'd its lane.
It seem'd a wee star lighted up amang heather!
My first thought said—“Pu' it, an' bring it away;”
But a tenderer pleaded—“How soon it wad wither!
O! leave it to bloom on its ain native brae!
“For wha kens,” pled the Thought, “but this bonnie flower bloomin',
May hae some kin' o' feelin' or sense o' its ain?
It 'ill change wi' the lift, be it smilin' or gloomin',
Exult in the sunshine, an' droop in the rain.
An' wha kens that it hasna some pleasure in gi'ein'
Its bloom to the e'e an' its sweets to the day?
That it hasna a secret an' sweet sense o' bein'?”—
Sae I left it to bloom on its ain native brae!
May hae some kin' o' feelin' or sense o' its ain?
It 'ill change wi' the lift, be it smilin' or gloomin',
Exult in the sunshine, an' droop in the rain.
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Its bloom to the e'e an' its sweets to the day?
That it hasna a secret an' sweet sense o' bein'?”—
Sae I left it to bloom on its ain native brae!
Wad the young man but learn frae this simple narration,
When he meets wi' a bonnie lass bloomin' her lane,
To think—that tho' poor, an' tho' lowly in station,
The lass has a heart he may please, or may pain!
Then, if he can mak' her a wife, let him tak' her,
An' bear her in joy an' in triumph away;
But O! if he canna—beguile her he manna,
But leave her to bloom on her ain native brae!
When he meets wi' a bonnie lass bloomin' her lane,
To think—that tho' poor, an' tho' lowly in station,
The lass has a heart he may please, or may pain!
Then, if he can mak' her a wife, let him tak' her,
An' bear her in joy an' in triumph away;
But O! if he canna—beguile her he manna,
But leave her to bloom on her ain native brae!
| The Poetical Works of Robert Story | |