Robert Burns wrote the following poem to Mrs. Agnes Craig McLehose before he married Jean Armour in 1788. Read the poem carefully and then in a well-written essay explain the speaker’s attitude toward love and how he reveals that attitude. You may wish to discuss figurative language, metrical pattern, tone, and other poetic devices that seem appropriate.
Ae* Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever *one
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae* cheerful twinkle lights me; *no, not
Dark despair around benights* me. *darkens, leaves me unenlightened
I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy,
Naething* could resist my Nancy: *nothing
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov’d sae* kindly, *so
Had we never lov’d sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne’er been broken-hearted.
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka* joy and treasure, *every
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.