My father argued sair—my mither didna speak,
But she looked in my face till my heart was like to break;
They gied him my hand, but my heart was in the sea;
And so Auld Robin Gray, he was gudeman to me.
I hadna been his wife, a week but only four,
When, mournfu' as I sat on the stane at the door,
I saw my Jamie's ghaist—I couldna think it he,
Till he said, "I'm come hame, love, for to marry thee!"
O sair, sair did we greet, and mickle did we say:
Ae kiss we took—nae mair—I bad him gang away.
I wish that I were dead, but I 'm no like to dee,
And why do I live to say, Wae is me!
I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin;
I darena think o' Jamie, for that wad be a sin.
But I will do my best a gude wife aye to be,
For Auld Robin Gray, he is kind unto me.
LADY ANNE BARNARD.
A pensive photograph
Watches me from the shelf— Ghost of old love, and half
Ghost of myself!
How the dear waiting eyes
Watch me and love me yet— Sad home of memories,
Her waiting eyes!
Ghost of old love, wronged ghost,
Return: though all the pain Of all once loved, long lost,
Come back again.
Forget not, but forgive!
Alas, too late I cry. We are two ghosts that had their chance to live,
And lost it, she and I.