Classic Poem

1

I lie me down, and then I think
I try to sleep an hour away
And fancy I'm on some broad brink
In foreign lands so far away
I think of one for loves dear sake
With her neat dress and bonnet on
The very moral in her make
Is bonny Mary Hamilton.

2

I sit upon the road-side hill
Church folks are going by to prayer
Of goodly ways there comes no Ill
And all have sabath faces there
I looked at one, my face grew pale
My self possession all was gone
I turned around to view the vale
And sighed for Mary Hamilton.

3

I feared offence, and dare not speak
I praised the flowers — and meant hersel
The sweet-briar bloom excuse did make
The heath-bloom tinkled like a bell
The briar blushed warm and so did she
I wondered what she thought upon
But from that hour I longed to see
The blooming Mary Hamilton.

4

Her hands were white, her feet were small
Her neck the creamy cloud at e'en
I thought when she was gone away
What could those turning blushes mean
Her features were the pastoral bloom
I told her 'twas the very same
Like evenings blue her two eyes shone
And all her face was in a flame
Thus I loved Mary Hamilton.

5

We staid, the sun sank in the sea,
And saw the pale moon climb the sky;
And dear as one's own life to me
Was Mary's parting smile and sigh;
I left her with a warm embrace,
And talked of time 'till time was gone,
And told her at that very place
I'd next meet Mary Hamilton.

6

The rising moon looked on the stream,
New gilding all the sleepy flowers;
The dew fell on the heather bloom,
And made the most delightful hours;
The fern owl churred his evening call,
The chaffer made his evening song —
And dew had sprinkled drops o'er all
When I left Mary Hamilton.