'O , Were My Love' by Robert Burns
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O, were my love yon lilac fair
Wi' purple blossoms to the spring,
And I a bird to shelter there,
When wearied on my little wing.
How I wad mourn when it was torn
By Autumn wild and Winter rude!
But I wad sing on wanton wing
When youthfu May its bloom renew'd.
O, gin my love were yon red rose,
That grows upon the castle wa',
And I mysel a drap o' dew
Into her bonie breast to fa',
O, there, beyond expression blest,
I'd feast on beauty a' the night,
Seal'd on her silk-saft faulds to rest,
Till fley'd awa by Phoebus' light!
Editor 1 Interpretation
O, Were My Love: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Robert Burns is a legendary Scottish poet who is known for his use of the Scottish dialect in his writings. His works are often reflective of the Scottish culture and the struggles of the common man. One of his most popular works is the poem "O, Were My Love." This poem is a beautiful expression of the longing and passion that Burns felt for his love. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we explore the various themes of this poem and try to understand its meaning.
Analysis
The poem "O, Were My Love" is a beautiful expression of the love that Robert Burns felt for his beloved. The poem is a lyrical ballad that consists of six stanzas, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem has a simple and direct style, which makes it easy to understand and appreciate.
Stanza 1
The first stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's love and longing for his beloved. The speaker says, "O, were my love yon lilac fair, / Wi' purple blossoms to the spring, / And I, a bird to shelter there, / When wearied on my little wing!" The speaker compares his love to a lilac tree and expresses his desire to be a bird that can take shelter in its branches. The lilac tree symbolizes the beauty and fragility of love, and the bird symbolizes the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved.
Stanza 2
The second stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved. The speaker says, "How I wad mourn when it was torn / By autumn wild and winter rude! / But I wad sing on wanton wing, / When youthfu' May its bloom renew'd." The speaker expresses his fear of losing his love to the harsh realities of life. However, he also expresses his hope that he will be able to find happiness with his beloved once again in the future.
Stanza 3
The third stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's desire to be reunited with his beloved. The speaker says, "O, gin my love were yon red rose, / That grows upon the castle wa'; / And I myself a drap o' dew, / Into her bonnie breast to fa'!" The speaker compares his love to a red rose that grows on a castle wall. He expresses his desire to be a drop of dew that falls into his beloved's bosom. The rose symbolizes the strength and beauty of love, and the drop of dew symbolizes the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved.
Stanza 4
The fourth stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's desire to be with his beloved forever. The speaker says, "Oh, there beyond expression blest, / I'd feast on beauty a' the night; / Seal'd on her silk-saft faulds to rest, / Till fley'd awa by Phoebus' light!" The speaker expresses his desire to spend eternity with his beloved. He imagines himself resting on his beloved's soft and silky folds and being enveloped in her beauty. The mention of "Phoebus' light" suggests that the speaker knows that his time with his beloved is limited and that he will eventually have to part ways.
Stanza 5
The fifth stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved even in death. The speaker says, "Were I, my love, yon tuft of flowers, / On which thou sett'st thy tender foot; / Ah, thou wouldst soon untie my bowers, / And send thy soul into the shoot!" The speaker compares himself to a tuft of flowers and imagines his beloved stepping on him. He expresses his hope that his beloved will be able to feel his love even after he is gone.
Stanza 6
The sixth and final stanza of the poem is an expression of the speaker's desire to be reunited with his beloved in the afterlife. The speaker says, "O, were I, love, thou lilac fair, / Wi' purple blossoms to the spring, / And I, a bird to shelter there, / When wearied on my little wing!" The speaker repeats the first stanza of the poem, emphasizing his desire to be reunited with his beloved in the afterlife. He imagines himself as a bird taking shelter in the branches of the lilac tree, which symbolizes his love for his beloved.
Themes
The poem "O, Were My Love" explores several themes, including love, longing, and the passage of time. The poem is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love and longing for his beloved. The lilac tree and the red rose symbolize the beauty and fragility of love, while the bird and the drop of dew symbolize the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved. The poem also explores the passage of time and the speaker's fear of losing his beloved to the harsh realities of life. The mention of "Phoebus' light" suggests that the speaker knows that his time with his beloved is limited and that he will eventually have to part ways. However, the poem also expresses the speaker's hope that he will be reunited with his beloved in the afterlife.
Conclusion
The poem "O, Were My Love" is a beautiful expression of the love and longing that Robert Burns felt for his beloved. The poem is a lyrical ballad that consists of six stanzas, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem explores several themes, including love, longing, and the passage of time. The lilac tree and the red rose symbolize the beauty and fragility of love, while the bird and the drop of dew symbolize the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved. The poem is a powerful expression of the human experience of love and loss, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh, Were My Love is a classic poem written by Robert Burns, a Scottish poet and lyricist who is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. This poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, and it has captivated readers for generations with its lyrical beauty and emotional depth.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing his desire to be with his beloved, saying "Oh, were my love yon Lilac fair, / Wi' purple blossoms to the Spring." The Lilac is a symbol of beauty and purity, and the speaker longs to be with his love in the springtime, when everything is new and fresh. He goes on to describe the Lilac in great detail, painting a vivid picture of its beauty and grace.
The second stanza of the poem continues in the same vein, with the speaker expressing his desire to be with his love "when the birds sang on ev'ry tree." He longs to be with her in the midst of nature, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing the birds as "sweetly singing o'er the braes" and the "crystal streams" that flow through the countryside.
In the third stanza, the speaker expresses his desire to be with his love "when the sun shines bright on the green." He longs to be with her in the warmth and light of the sun, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The imagery in this stanza is particularly vivid, with the speaker describing the "dewy roses" that bloom in the sunshine and the "larks sae high" that sing in the sky.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, as the speaker expresses his longing to be with his love "when the weary sun has gone to rest." He longs to be with her in the quiet of the evening, when the world is still and peaceful. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing the "weary ploughman" who returns home at the end of the day and the "weary herd" who brings his cattle home.
The final stanza of the poem brings everything together, as the speaker expresses his longing to be with his love "when the moon shines bright on Charlie's Wa's." He longs to be with her in the moonlight, surrounded by the beauty of the Scottish countryside. The imagery in this stanza is particularly beautiful, with the speaker describing the "crimson-tipp'd" clouds that float in the sky and the "silvery moon" that shines down on the world below.
Overall, Oh, Were My Love is a beautiful expression of love and longing, and it has captivated readers for generations with its lyrical beauty and emotional depth. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the beauty of nature, and it continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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