A Galloway Song Poem by John Keats

A Galloway Song

Rating: 2.7


Ah! ken ye what I met the day
Out oure the Mountains
A coming down by craggi[e]s grey
An mossie fountains --
A[h] goud hair'd Marie yeve I pray
Ane minute's guessing --
For that I met upon the way
Is past expressing.
As I stood where a rocky brig
A torrent crosses
I spied upon a misty rig
A troup o' Horses --
And as they trotted down the glen
I sped to meet them
To see if I might know the Men
To stop and greet them.
First Willie on his sleek mare came
At canting gallop --
His long hair rustled like a flame
On board a shallop.
Then came his brother Rab and then
Young Peggy's Mither
And Peggy too -- adown the glen
They went togither --
I saw her wrappit in her hood
Fra wind and raining --
Her cheek was flush wi' timid blood
'Twixt growth and waning --
She turn'd her dazed head full oft
For there her Brithers
Came riding with her Bridegroom soft
And mony ithers.
Young Tam came up an' eyed me quick
With reddened cheek --
Braw Tam was daffed like a chick --
He coud na speak --
Ah Marie they are all gane hame
Through blustering weather
An' every heart is full on flame
Ah! Marie they are all gone hame
Fra happy wedding,
Whilst I -- Ah is it not a shame?
Sad tears am shedding.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Unnikrishnan E S 23 December 2018

Excellent poem! How carefully the great poet has used the dialect of an illiterate mountain dweller, instead of his chaste English. I have only seen The Bard doing this.

1 0 Reply
param Pandey 16 January 2018

Beautiful poem

1 0 Reply
* Sunprincess * 27 August 2015

....nice write....the language was interesting ★

2 0 Reply

A very good poem with nice visuals and interested in it.

1 0 Reply
Scott Forster 28 May 2012

Ulster scots? definately socts in anycase.Also could Marie be a reference to Marie's Wedding?

8 5 Reply
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John Keats

John Keats

London, England
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