Down the Burn Davie

Down the Burn Davie - meaning Summary

Rural Flirtation and Devotion

This short lyric sketches a rustic scene of courtship as a young couple strolls along a stream. The speaker describes frequent, intimate touches and a conversation about returning to the same pleasurable place. Mary replies warmly, promising to follow and renew the shared pleasure. The poem emphasizes simple, steady affection, the comfort of repeated visits to a favored natural spot, and the mutual consent that underpins their relationship. Its tone is light, domestic, and celebratory of ordinary rural love rather than dramatic passion or conflict.