The Lass Of Cessnock Banks

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



On Cessnock banks a lassie dwells,
    Could I describe her shape and mien!
Our lasses a' she far excels---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's sweeter than the morning dawn,
    When rising Phoebus first is seen,
And dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's stately like yon youthful ash,
    That grows the cowslip braes between,
And drinks the stream with vigour fresh---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

She's spotless like the flow'ring thorn,
    With flow'rs so white and leaves so green,
When purest in the dewy morn---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her looks are like the vernal May,
    When ev'ning Phoebus shines serene,
While birds rejoice on every spray---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her hair is like the curling mist,
    That climbs the mountain-sides at e'en,
When flower-reviving rains are past---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her forehead's like the show'ry bow,
    When gleaming sunbeams intervene,
And gild the distant mountain's brow---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her cheeks are like yon crimson gem,
    The pride of all the flowery scene,
Just opening on its thorny stem---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her bosom's like the nightly snow,
    When pale the morning rises keen,
While hid the murm'ring streamlets flow---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her lips are like yon cherries ripe,
    That sunny walls from Boreas screen:
They tempt the taste and charm the sight
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her teeth are like a flock of sheep,
    With fleeces newly washen clean,
That slowly mount the rising steep---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze,
    That gently stirs the blossom'd bean,
When Phoebus sinks behind the seas---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

Her voice is like the ev'ning thrush,
    That sings on Cessnock banks unseen,
While his mate sits nestling in the bush---
    An she has twa sparkling, rogueish een!

But it's not her air, her form, her face,
    Tho matching Beauty's fabled Queen:
'Tis the mind that shines in ev'ry grace---
    An chiefly in her rogueish een!

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:55 min read
108

Quick analysis:

Scheme abaB cbcB xbxB dbdB ebeB xxxB fbfB gbgB hbhB xbxB ibiB jbjB xbxB kbkb
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 2,254
Words 367
Stanzas 14
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

All Robert Burns poems | Robert Burns Books

10 fans

Discuss the poem The Lass Of Cessnock Banks with the community...

0 Comments

    Translation

    Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Lass Of Cessnock Banks" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/30577/the-lass-of-cessnock-banks>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    March 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    21
    hours
    43
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    A poem that has no rhyme is called ________.
    A a song
    B a limerick
    C a ballad
    D free verse