'Mary Morison' by Robert Burns


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O Mary, at thy window be,
It is the wished, the trysted hour!
Those smiles and glances let me see,
That make the miser's treasure poor:
How blythely wad I bide the stour,
A weary slave frae sun to sun,
Could I the rich reward secure,
The lovely Mary Morison.

Yestreen, when to the trembling string
The dance gaed thro' the lighted ha',
To thee my fancy took its wing,
I sat, but neither heard nor saw:
Tho' this was fair, and that was braw,
And yon the toast of a' the town,
I sighed, and said amang them a',
"Ye are na Mary Morison."

O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace
Wha for thy sake wad gladly dee?
Or canst thou break that heart of his,
Whose only faut is loving thee?
If love for love thou wilt na gie,
At least be pity to me shown;
A thought ungentle canna be
The thought o' Mary Morison.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Mary Morison: A Literary Masterpiece

Robert Burns is known for his emotional and heartwarming poems, and "Mary Morison" is no different. This classic poem tells the story of a young girl, Mary Morison, and her lover, who is deeply in love with her. The poem is filled with vivid imagery, metaphors, and similes that make it not only a beautiful poem but also an interpretation of the human emotions of love and loss.

The Poem

Here is a full text of the poem:

O Mary, at thy window be,

It is the wish'd, the trysted hour!

Those smiles and glances let me see,

That make the miser's treasure poor:

How blythely wad I bide the stoure,

A weary slave frae sun to sun,

Could I the rich reward secure,

The lovely Mary Morison!

Yestreen, when to the trembling string

The dance gaed thro' the lighted ha',

To thee my fancy took its wing,

I sat, but neither heard nor saw:

Tho' this was fair, and that was braw,

And yon the toast of a' the town,

I sigh'd, and said amang them a',

"Ye are na Mary Morison."

O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace,

Wha for thy sake wad gladly die?

Or canst thou break that heart of his,

Whase only faut is loving thee?

If love for love thou wilt na gie,

At least be pity to me shown;

A thought ungentle canna be

The thought o' Mary Morison.

But many a waste, o'er life's dark sea,

Fu' loud and shill the tempests rave;

And life's lone winter nights are drear,

When ilka star blinks cauld and pale:

But kindly still, my heart, wad hail

The time when I shall see thee foun;

For thou'rt no Mary Morison.

Interpretation

The poem is a beautiful representation of love and loss. It tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with Mary Morison and desperately wants to be with her. The first stanza sets the stage for the poem, with the speaker asking Mary to come to her window for their trysted hour. He longs to see her "smiles and glances" that he treasures more than any riches. The speaker is willing to endure anything, even the worst of storms, if he could just be with Mary.

The second stanza takes us to a dance where the speaker's mind is not on the festivities but on Mary. He saw other beautiful women but none of them compared to Mary. He sighs and says among them, "Ye are na Mary Morison." The speaker is smitten with Mary, and nothing else can capture his attention.

In the third stanza, the speaker pleads with Mary not to wreck his peace. He is willing to die for her, but he can't bear the thought of her breaking his heart. The speaker hopes that Mary will at least pity him if she can't love him back. He ends with the thought that any unkindness towards him would be ungentle, considering the deep feelings he has for Mary.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of melancholy. The speaker knows that life is full of storms, and winter nights can be dark and lonely. But he still holds out hope that he will one day be with Mary. However, the final line of the poem, "For thou'rt no Mary Morison," suggests that the speaker may never get his wish.

Analysis

The poem is filled with metaphors and similes that paint vivid pictures of love and longing. In the first stanza, the speaker says that Mary's "smiles and glances" make the miser's treasure poor. This comparison shows how much the speaker values Mary's attention and how it is worth more to him than any riches.

In the second stanza, the speaker compares the other women at the dance to Mary, saying they are fair and braw, but they are not Mary Morison. This comparison highlights the unique qualities that Mary possesses that make her the object of the speaker's affection.

In the third stanza, the speaker begs Mary not to wreck his peace or break his heart. He says that his only fault is loving her. This metaphor makes it clear that the speaker is completely devoted to Mary and that his love for her is his only weakness.

In the final stanza, the speaker compares life to a stormy sea and the winter nights to darkness. These comparisons show the speaker's awareness of the difficulties and hardships of life. But despite these hardships, the speaker still holds onto the hope that he will one day be with Mary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Mary Morison" is a beautiful poem that represents love and loss. The use of metaphors and similes throughout the poem shows the depth of the speaker's emotions and his longing for Mary. The poem is a masterpiece that showcases Robert Burns' ability to capture human emotions and bring them to life in his writing. The final line of the poem is a poignant reminder that sometimes, despite our deepest desires, we may not get what we want. But even in the face of this reality, the poem leaves us with a sense of hope and the knowledge that love is always worth pursuing.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Mary Morison: A Classic Poem by Robert Burns

Robert Burns is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and his works continue to inspire and move people to this day. One of his most famous poems is Mary Morison, a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem, exploring its themes, structure, and language, and uncovering the deeper meanings that lie beneath its surface.

The Poem

Mary Morison is a ballad-style poem that tells the story of a young man who is deeply in love with a woman named Mary Morison. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each consisting of four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. Here is the full text of the poem:

O Mary, at thy window be! It is the wish'd, the trysted hour. Those smiles and glances let me see, That make the miser's treasure poor.

How blythely wad I bide the stoure, A weary slave frae sun to sun, Could I the rich reward secure, The lovely Mary Morison.

Yestreen, when to the trembling string The dance gaed thro' the lighted ha', To thee my fancy took its wing, I sat, but neither heard nor saw:

Tho' this was fair, and that was braw, And yon the toast of a' the town, I sigh'd, and said amang them a', "Ye are na Mary Morison."

O, Mary, canst thou wreck his peace, Wha for thy sake wad gladly die? Or canst thou break that heart of his, Whase only faut is loving thee?

If love for love thou wilt na gie, At least be pity to me shown; A thought ungentle canna be The thought o' Mary Morison.

Themes

At its core, Mary Morison is a poem about love and longing. The speaker is deeply in love with Mary Morison, and he longs to be with her, to see her smile and hear her laughter. He is willing to endure any hardship, to work as a slave from sun to sun, if only he can win her love and affection. However, the poem also touches on themes of loss and rejection. The speaker is painfully aware that Mary Morison may not feel the same way about him, and he fears that his love for her may go unrequited. He pleads with her to at least show him pity, to spare him the pain of rejection.

Structure

The structure of Mary Morison is simple and straightforward, but it is also highly effective in conveying the emotions and themes of the poem. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme. This creates a sense of rhythm and flow that is both pleasing to the ear and easy to follow. The use of repetition, such as the repeated use of Mary's name, also helps to reinforce the central theme of the poem and create a sense of unity and coherence.

Language

The language of Mary Morison is simple and direct, but it is also highly evocative and emotive. Burns uses a range of poetic devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and metaphor, to create a rich and vivid picture of the speaker's emotions and experiences. For example, in the first stanza, he uses the metaphor of a miser's treasure to describe the value of Mary's smiles and glances. This creates a sense of contrast between the material wealth that the miser values and the emotional wealth that the speaker values.

In the second stanza, Burns uses the Scottish word "stoure" to describe the hardship and struggle that the speaker is willing to endure for Mary's sake. This word has a rough and rugged quality that conveys the physical and emotional toll that such hardship would take. Similarly, in the third stanza, Burns uses the phrase "fair and braw" to describe the other women at the dance, but contrasts this with the speaker's sigh of "Ye are na Mary Morison." This creates a sense of longing and desire that is both poignant and powerful.

In the final stanza, Burns uses the phrase "whase only faut is loving thee" to describe the speaker's love for Mary. This phrase has a sense of innocence and purity that reinforces the idea that the speaker's love is genuine and sincere. The use of the word "faut" instead of "fault" also adds a touch of Scottish dialect to the poem, giving it a sense of authenticity and local flavor.

Conclusion

Mary Morison is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of love, loss, and longing are universal, and its simple yet powerful language and structure make it a timeless masterpiece. Robert Burns was a master of his craft, and this poem is a testament to his skill and artistry. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply appreciate beautiful writing, Mary Morison is a must-read.

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