Song ----
1
Sensibility how charming,
Thou, my friend, canst truly tell;
But distress with horrors arming,
Thou hast also known too well. ----
2
Fairest flower, behold the lily
Blooming in the sunny ray;
Let the blast sweep o'er the valley,
See it prostrate on the clay. ----
3
Hear the wood-lark charm the forest,
Telling o'er his little joys;
Hepless bird! a prey the surest
To each pirate of the skies. ----
4
Dearly bought the hidden treasure
Finer feelings can bestow:
Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasure,
Thrill the deepest notes of woe. ----
____________________
1
Sensibility how charming,
Thou, my friend, canst truly tell;
But distress with horrors arming,
Thou hast also known too well. ----
2
Fairest flower, behold the lily
Blooming in the sunny ray;
Let the blast sweep o'er the valley,
See it prostrate on the clay. ----
3
Hear the wood-lark charm the forest,
Telling o'er his little joys;
Hepless bird! a prey the surest
To each pirate of the skies. ----
4
Dearly bought the hidden treasure
Finer feelings can bestow:
Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasure,
Thrill the deepest notes of woe. ----
____________________
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/82
- Alt. number
- 3.6237
- Date
- 1790
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/82
- Alt. number
- 3.6237
- Date
- 1790
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
Sensibility how charming. 4 Four-line verses. This poem was originally included by Robert Burns in a letter to Mrs. Dunlop, dated 9th July, 1790, offering his sympathy to her on the death of her son-in-law, James Henri.
Burns composed this poem in early July 1790, the same time as he was corresponding with his friend Mrs Dunlop. He included two verses of the work in a letter and later sent her the completed version at the end of the month. A personalised version was sent to Clarinda at the end of the following year.
In each of the four verses of this poem, Burns contrasts the joys and tragedies of life experienced by man and nature alike.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Sensibility how charming