Poem by William Nicholson

The Banks of Tarf

WHERE windin’ Tarf, by broomy knowes,
Her siller wave sae saftly rows;
And mony a green-wood cluster grows,
  An’ harebells bloomin’, bonnie, O.
Below a spreadin’ hazle-tree,
Fu’ snugly hid whar nane could see,
While blinkin’ love beamed frae her e’e,
  I met my bonnie Annie, O.

Her neck was o’ the snawdrap hue,
Her lips like roses wet wi’ dew:
But O, her e’e, o’ azure blue,
  Was past expressin’ bonnie, O.
Like threads o’ gowd her flowin’ hair,
That lightly wantoned in the air;
But vain were a’ my skill an’ mair
  To tell the charms o’ Annie, O.

While smilin’ in my arms she lay,
She whisperin’ in my ear did say,
“O how could I survive the day,
  Should ye prove fause, my Tammie, O!”
“While spangled fish glide to the main,
While Scotlan’s braes shall wave wi’ grain,
Till this fond heart shall break wi’ pain,
  I ’ll aye be true to Annie, O.”

The Beltane winds blew loud an’ lang,
An’ ripplin’ raised the spray alang;
We cheerfu’ sat, and cheerfu’ sang,
  The banks o’ Tarf are bonnie, O.
Though sweet is spring, whan young and gay,
An’ blythe the blinks o’ summer’s day;
I fear nae winter, cauld and blae,
  If blest wi’ love an’ Annie, O.

1. The Banks of Fleet
2. The Braes of Galloway

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