Love

The Banks of Yarrow: In Imitation of a Scotch Ballad

by George Saville Carey 1743–1807

From Analects in Verse and Prose, vol. II (London, 1770)

Love

Why turns my Jen her head awa,
My little blythsome sparrow,
That us'd to wanton, smile and play
Upon the Banks of Yarrow.

When the primrose blow'd so pale,
She look'd so winsome marrow,
And with her smiles she chear'd the dale,
And crown'd the Banks of Yarrow.

Ah, what is't makes my Jenny weep,
What makes her looks aw sarrow,
Has she lost her fav'rite sheep,
That feed on bonny Yarrow.

Alas, alas, I mainly fear,
The cause of aw this sarrow,
Sh'as seen some other lad more dear,
Upon the Banks of Yarrow.

Ah well is me, Ah well-aday!
I see what caus'd this sarrow,
I'll o'er the hills and far away,
And think na mare of Yarrow.

MLA

Carey, George Saville. “The Banks of Yarrow: In Imitation of a Scotch Ballad.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/carey_gs/47/.

Chicago

Carey, George Saville. “The Banks of Yarrow: In Imitation of a Scotch Ballad.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/carey_gs/47/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by George Saville Carey