O May Thy Morn
written in 1791
O May Thy Morn - meaning Summary
A Remembered Secret Night
This short lyric recalls a private, warmly remembered winter night of drink and intimacy. The speaker celebrates a loved woman he will not name, repeating that he will always remember her. The second stanza shifts to convivial toasts: to friends who share the cup, to those who wish them well, and to the unnamed beloveds whose value is felt but not spoken. The poem balances fond memory, restraint, and camaraderie, using repetition to underline affection and the social pleasure of drinking and secrecy.
Read Complete AnalysesO May thy morn was ne'er sae sweet, As the mirk night o' December; For sparkling was the rosy wine, And private was the chamber: And dear was she, I dare na name, But I will ay remember. And dear was she, I dare na name, But I will ay remember. And here's to them, that, like oursel, Can push about the jorum; And here's to them that wish us weel, May a' that's gude watch o'er them: And here's to them, we dare na tell, The dearest o' the quorum. And here's to them, we dare na tell, The dearest o' the quorum.
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