Red, Red Rose
By Robert Burns

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 bonie 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 the weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns was born at Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland on January 25, 1759. He was the most famous of the Scottish poets, living only until the age of 37. He did, however, lead an interesting life during that short time.

The Early Years

Burns was the son of a gardener and tenant farmer. Living primarily in poverty, even at the age of 12, he was doing a man’s job. The hard work and poor nutrition impacted his heart, which would play a role in his early death.

Despite the destitute situation of the family, Burns was able to obtain some education. In addition to formal education, he was influenced by his mother and a servant named Betty Davidson. Burns was a voracious reader of Milton, Shakespeare and chapbooks whereby he learned vernacular ballads, folk tales and songs.

When Burns was 18, the family moved to Lochlea near Tarbolton. It was here that he was afforded the opportunity to interact with his peers. Aside his father’s objections, he learned to dance in 1779. In 1780, he formed the organization Tarbolton Bachelors’ Club and joined the Freemasons in 1781.

Burns & Destiny as a Poet

In 1781, at the age of 22, Burns met a merchant seaman by the name of Richard Brown. The seaman was complimentary of Burns’ poetry and encouraged him to publish. As a result, in April 1783, Burns began a Commonplace Book whereby he copied his early verses and prose.

The poetry of Robert Fergusson would also have an important impact on Burns’ work. Burns discovered that the Scots vernacular was indeed poetic. By 1785, Burns had honed his skills in the forms of verse.

Burns and His Work

Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect was printed by John Wilson of Kilmarnock on August 1, 1786. The work made Burns an overnight success. On December 14, 1786, Burns signed a publishing contract with William Creech. Burns would publish a variety of works. His literary work composed at Ellisland farm (1788-1891) was published in the form of songs for Johnson’s Museum. Volumes appeared in March 1788, February 1790 and August 1792.

In addition to being a poet, he unsuccessfully took his hand at tenant farming for a brief time at Ellisland farm. Signing the lease on March 18, 1788, he would surrender the lease three years later. As a supplement to tenant farming, he had obtained an appointment as an excise officer of the rural district in which he lived. Burns would meet with some success in this position up until he died.

Burns - An Early Death

Burns experienced a decline in his health in 1795. He contracted rheumatic fever and died on July 21, 1796 of endocarditis*.

*inflammation of the heart

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