The Book of Scottish Song/Her bonnie black e'e 1

Her bonnie black e'e.

[William Laidlaw, author of "Lucy's flitting."]

On the banks o' the burn while I pensively wander,
The mavis sings sweetly, unheeded by me;
I think on my lassie, her gentle mild nature,
I think on the smile o' her bonnie black e'e.

When heavy the rain fa's, and loud loud the win' blaws,
An' simmer's gay cleedin' drives fast frae the tree;
I heedna the win" nor the rain when I think on
The kind lovely smile o' my lassie's black e'e.

When swift as the hawk, in the stormy November,
The cauld norlan' win' ca's the drift owre the lea;
Though bidin' its blast on the side o' the mountain,
I think on the smile o' her bonnie black e'e.

When braw at a weddin' I see the fine lasses,
Tho' a' neat an' bonnie, they're naething to me;
I sigh an' sit dowie, regardless what passes,
When I miss the smile o' her bonnie black e'e.

When thin twinklin' sternies announce the grey gloamin',
When a' round the ingle's sae cheerie to see;
Then music delightfu', saft on the heart stealin',
Minds me o' the smile o' her bonnie black e'e.

When jokin', an' laughin', the lave they are merry,
Tho' absent me heart like the lave I maun be;
Sometimes I laugh wi' them, but oft I turn dowie,
An' think on the smile o' my lassie's black e'e.

Her lovely fair form frae my mind's awa' never,
She's dearer than a' this hale warld to me;
An' this is my wish, May I leave it, if ever
She row on another her love-beaming e'e.

---