Kelvin Grove. Thomas Lyle (1792-1859). Kelvin Grove. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Scotland: Vols. VI-VIII

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Kelvin Grove

Thomas Lyle (1792–1859)


LET us haste to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie, O!
Through its mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie, O!
Where the rose in all her pride
Paints the hollow dingle-side,
Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie, O!	5

Let us wander by the mill, bonnie lassie, O!
To the cove beside the rill, bonnie lassie, O!
Where the glens rebound the call
Of the roaring water’s fall,
Through the mountain’s rocky hall, bonnie lassie, O!	10

O Kelvin banks are fair, bonnie lassie, O!
When in summer we are there, bonnie lassie, O!
There the May pink’s crimson plume
Throws a soft but sweet perfume
Round the yellow banks of broom, bonnie lassie, O!	15

Though I dare not call thee mine, bonnie lassie, O!
As the smile of fortune’s thine, bonnie lassie, O!
Yet with fortune on my side,
I could stay thy father’s pride,
And win thee for my bride, bonnie lassie, O!	20

But the frowns of fortune lower, bonnie lassie, O!
On thy lover at this hour, bonnie lassie, O!
Ere yon golden orb of day
Wake the warblers on the spray,
From this land I must away, bonnie lassie, O!	25

Then farewell to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie, O!
And adieu to all I love, bonnie lassie, O!
To the river winding clear,
To the fragrant-scented breer,
Even to thee of all most dear, bonnie lassie, O!	30

When upon a foreign shore, bonnie lassie, O!
Should I fall midst battle’s roar, bonnie lassie, O!
Then, Helen! shouldst thou hear
Of thy lover on his bier,
To his memory shed a tear, bonnie lassie, O!	35