Love
Oh, Wae's My Life
From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 5 (1855–57)
Oh, wae's my life, and sad my heart,
The saut tears fill my e'e, Willie,
Nae hope can bloom this side the tomb,
Since ye hae gane frae me, Willie.
O' warl's gear I couldna' boast,
But now I'm poor indeed, Willie;
The last fond hope I leant upon,
Has fail'd me in my need, Willie.
For wealth or fame ye've left your Jean,
Forgat your plighted vow, Willie;
Can honours proud dispel the cloud,
That darkens on your brow, Willie?
Oh, was I then a thing sae mean,
For nought but beauty prized, Willie;
Caress'd a'e day, then flung away,
A fading flower despised, Willie?
Sin' love has fled, and hope is dead,
Soon my poor heart maun break, Willie;
As your ain life, oh, guard your wife--
I 'll love her for your sake, Willie.
Through my despair, oh, mony a prayer,
Will rise for her and ye, Willie;
That ye may prove to her, in love,
Mair faithfu' than to me, Willie.
Cite this poem
MLA
Bennoch, Francis. “Oh, Wae's My Life.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bennoch/9/.
Chicago
Bennoch, Francis. “Oh, Wae's My Life.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bennoch/9/.
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