Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 255. Verses to Miss Cruickshank |
| | | | A very Young Lady
Written on the Blank Leaf of a Book, presented to her by the Author. |
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| BEAUTEOUS Rosebud, young and gay, | |
| Blooming in thy early May, | |
| Never may’st thou, lovely flower, | |
| Chilly shrink in sleety shower! | |
| Never Boreas’ hoary path, | 5 |
| Never Eurus’ pois’nous breath, | |
| Never baleful stellar lights, | |
| Taint thee with untimely blights! | |
| Never, never reptile thief | |
| Riot on thy virgin leaf! | 10 |
| Nor even Sol too fiercely view | |
| Thy bosom blushing still with dew! | |
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| May’st thou long, sweet crimson gem, | |
| Richly deck thy native stem; | |
| Till some ev’ning, sober, calm, | 15 |
| Dropping dews, and breathing balm, | |
| While all around the woodland rings, | |
| And ev’ry bird thy requiem sings; | |
| Thou, amid the dirgeful sound, | |
| Shed thy dying honours round, | 20 |
| And resign to parent Earth | |
| The loveliest form she e’er gave birth. | |
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