Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/The Meadow Gowan

The Meadow Gowan.

"O lintie, blythe-voiced lintie,"
Sang the happy-heartit wren,
To its neebour on the auld aik tree
That grows i' the Hazelglen;
"O lintie, gleefu' lintie,
I' yer ain clear accents tell
Whilk o' the blossoms ye like the best,
In field or flower-gemmed fell?"

"O sunshine-lovin' birdie,"
Sang the siller-toned lintie gay,
"I lo'e the flowers o' the green-gilt bowers,
An' I lo'e my ain sweet May;
An' noo that she busks the meadows,
In vestures o' fairy green,
Fu' mony braw buds i' the lanely woods
Bloom rosily serene.

"The sky-blue glow o' the violet
Shines oot frae its cosy nook,
An' the harebell's pride nods owre the side
O' the crystal-rinnin' brook;
The snaw-white virgin lily,
The yellow-frilled daffodil,
Bestud the knowe an' the huntin' howe,
An' the emerald-tinted hill.

"But o' a' the shinin' colours
O' purple an' azure dye,
That paint the flowers o' the woodland bowers
Sae fair an' sae ruddily,
I lo'e the white o' the gowan,
A' modest-like an' mild,
Wi' its spotless face o' maiden grace—
'Tis the meadow's bonniest child.

"O gowan, gowd-lipt gowan,
Wi' yer rosy-spangled crest,
An' yer stainless lips, whaur the clear dew drips,
'Tis you I lo'e the best."