Robert Burns

On Chloris Being Ill

written in 1795

On Chloris Being Ill - fact Summary

Written for Chloris, 1795

This short lyric, composed in 1795, is addressed to a woman called Chloris and expresses the speakers anguish at her illness. The repeated refrain underscores sleepless nights and dread as hope disappears; the voice pleads with divine powers to spare Chloris above all else. It is believed Burns wrote the poem for a real romantic interest or close friend named Chloris, which frames the intensity of personal feeling and urgent entreaty driving the poems emotional focus.

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Long, long the night, Heavy comes the morrow, While my soul's delight Is on her bed of sorrow. Can I cease to care, Can I cease to languish, While my darling Fair Is on the couch of anguish. Long, long the night, Heavy comes the morrow, While my soul's delight Is on her bed of sorrow. Ev'ry hope is fled; Ev'ry fear is terror; Slumber even I dread, Ev'ry dream is horror. Long, long the night, Heavy comes the morrow, While my soul's delight Is on her bed of sorrow. Hear me, Powers Divine! Oh, in pity, hear me! Take aught else of mine, But my Chloris spare me! Long, long the night, Heavy comes the morrow, While my soul's delight Is on her bed of sorrow.

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