Poems by Robert Nicoll Second edition: with numerous additions, and a memoir of the author |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
THE FORSAKEN. |
| V. |
 | Poems by Robert Nicoll |  |
THE FORSAKEN.
The rowing waves, the ocean tides,
Are changefu' baith at e'en and morn,—
Like sunshine and its following shade
Upon the dew-wet, yellow corn:
The burn sings saftly o'er the lea,
Where ance it like a torrent ran;
But a' are steadfastness itsel'
When liken'd to the heart o' man.
Are changefu' baith at e'en and morn,—
Like sunshine and its following shade
Upon the dew-wet, yellow corn:
The burn sings saftly o'er the lea,
Where ance it like a torrent ran;
But a' are steadfastness itsel'
When liken'd to the heart o' man.
Ane sought my love, when in my teens,
A thoughtless lassie, I was gay;
I trusted, as a woman trusts,
And made his love my bosom's stay;
And when, to gather gowd, he gaed
To some far land ayont the main,
I lang'd at e'en, I lang'd at morn,
To see my lov'd one back again.
A thoughtless lassie, I was gay;
I trusted, as a woman trusts,
And made his love my bosom's stay;
151
To some far land ayont the main,
I lang'd at e'en, I lang'd at morn,
To see my lov'd one back again.
I ne'er gaed near the youngsters' dance;
But, when the light o' day grew dim,
I sought the broomy trysting knowe,
Where quietness dwelt, to think on him.
Years cam' an' gaed; but hame to me
He hied na, as he should ha'e done:
But, O! I ne'er mistrusted him—
His name I cherish'd late an' soon.
But, when the light o' day grew dim,
I sought the broomy trysting knowe,
Where quietness dwelt, to think on him.
Years cam' an' gaed; but hame to me
He hied na, as he should ha'e done:
But, O! I ne'er mistrusted him—
His name I cherish'd late an' soon.
My father and my mother baith
Were laid aneath the cauldrife yird,
And I was left alane, alane,
A mourning and a mateless bird.
He came at length,—and O! my heart
Was glad as heart can ever be,—
He cam' wi' a' his treasured love,
He came to gi'e it a' to me.
Were laid aneath the cauldrife yird,
And I was left alane, alane,
A mourning and a mateless bird.
He came at length,—and O! my heart
Was glad as heart can ever be,—
He cam' wi' a' his treasured love,
He came to gi'e it a' to me.
I heard his foot on my door-stane—
He stood upon my lanely floor—
I gazed upon the manly form
That did my lassie's heart allure;
And bitter thoughts came in my breast;
For Pride was dancing in the e'e
Whence Love should ha'e been smiling sweet
To bless, and glad, and comfort me.
He stood upon my lanely floor—
I gazed upon the manly form
That did my lassie's heart allure;
And bitter thoughts came in my breast;
For Pride was dancing in the e'e
152
To bless, and glad, and comfort me.
I saw his glance o' meikle scorn
Upon my lanely maiden hame;
And O! I thought my heart wad break
While laigh I murmur'd forth his name.
He gazed upon my alter'd form,—
I kent what in his e'e did gleam:—
He thought na, in his cruelty,
The change was wrought by waiting him.
Upon my lanely maiden hame;
And O! I thought my heart wad break
While laigh I murmur'd forth his name.
He gazed upon my alter'd form,—
I kent what in his e'e did gleam:—
He thought na, in his cruelty,
The change was wrought by waiting him.
He cauldly spake o' youthfu' days;
And o' his plighted faith spake he;
And syne I scorn'd the world's slave,
And proudly told him he was free.
He turn'd him wi' a mocking smile,
And offer'd gowd and offer'd gear:
And then I sought in vain to dee,—
For this I cou'dna, cou'dna bear.
And o' his plighted faith spake he;
And syne I scorn'd the world's slave,
And proudly told him he was free.
He turn'd him wi' a mocking smile,
And offer'd gowd and offer'd gear:
And then I sought in vain to dee,—
For this I cou'dna, cou'dna bear.
Truth, Love, and Woman's Faith, in youth,
A dwellin' place had biggit me,—
A hame where Joy upon my heart
Had blinkit sunshine wondrouslie;
But Falsehood came, and to the earth
That Palace o' the Soul did fa':
For Woman's Trustin' Faith was gane,
And Truth and Love were far awa'.
A dwellin' place had biggit me,—
A hame where Joy upon my heart
Had blinkit sunshine wondrouslie;
But Falsehood came, and to the earth
That Palace o' the Soul did fa':
For Woman's Trustin' Faith was gane,
And Truth and Love were far awa'.
153
I bared my breast beneath a ray
Sent frae Love's bonnie Simmer sun;
But, ere I wist, cauld Winter cam',
And Hope and Joy gaed one by one.
I maybe loved a thing o' earth
O'er weel, and Heaven burst the chain;—
I ken na; but my heart is sair,
And Age is comin' cauld and lane!
Sent frae Love's bonnie Simmer sun;
But, ere I wist, cauld Winter cam',
And Hope and Joy gaed one by one.
I maybe loved a thing o' earth
O'er weel, and Heaven burst the chain;—
I ken na; but my heart is sair,
And Age is comin' cauld and lane!
| Poems by Robert Nicoll | |