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

Doon, the River

The Banks of Doon

By Robert Burns (1759–1796)

YE banks and braes of bonnie Doon,

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair!

How can ye chant, ye little birds,

And I sae weary, fu’ o’ care!

Thou ’lt break my heart, thou warbling bird,

That wantons thro’ the flowering thorn:

Thou minds me o’ departed joys,

Departed—never to return.

Aft hae I roved by bonnie Doon,

To see the rose and woodbine twine;

And ilka bird sang o’ its luve,

And fondly sae did I o’ mine.

Wi’ lightsome heart I pu’d a rose,

Fu’ sweet upon its thorny tree;

And my fause luver stole my rose,

But, ah! he left the thorn wi’ me.