Red, Red Rose

(miniature of unknown woman)

The month of June has long been associated with weddings. But first comes love, and that will be our theme this month.

Poets are fascinated with love and romance. It’s their favorite topic. We begin with one of the most famous love poems, in the original Scottish English dialect. It’s based on a traditional song. The poet does what lovers do, compare his beloved to something beautiful. Here he uses similes, others may also use metaphors.

RED, RED ROSE

O, my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O, my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

~ Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scottish poet