Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MARY, THE MAID OF THE TAY, by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL Poet's Biography First Line: Ye banks and braes o' bonnie tay Last Line: For my lovely mary, the maid o' the tay. Subject(s): Death; Household Employees; Mourning; Dead, The; Servants; Domestics; Maids; Bereavement | ||||||||
Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Tay, Whaur me and my Mary oft did stray; But noo she is dead and gane far away, See I maun mourn for lovely Mary, the Maid o' the Tay. The first time I met her 'twas in the month of May, And the sun was shining bricht on the Silvery Tay; I asked her name and she modestly did say, "Some fouks ca's me lovely Mary, the Maid o' the Tay." Oh, charming Mary o' the Tay, Queen o' my soul by nicht and day; But noo thou'rt gane and left me here To weep for you, sweet Mary dear. Oh, bonnie Mary o' the Tay, Joy o' my heart and Queen o' May; With thee I aye felt happy and gay While rambling with thee on the banks o' the Tay. Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Tay, With my Mary ye seemed ever gay; But noo ye seem baith dark and drear, For my puir heart ye canna cheer. My Mary was handsome and fair to be seen, She had bonnie fair hair and twa blue een; And she was aye happy while we carelessly did stray Alang the banks o' the Silvery Tay. Oh, Mary dear, I mourn thy loss, To me the world seems nought but dross; Sae I maun mourn baith nicht and day For my lovely Mary, the Maid o' the Tay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUNGERFIELD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN HECUBA MOURNS by MARILYN NELSON THERE IS NO GOD BUT by AGHA SHAHID ALI IF I COULD MOURN LIKE A MOURNING DOVE by FRANK BIDART THE TAY BRIDGE DISEASTER by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL |
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