The Young Highland Rover
written in 1787
The Young Highland Rover - meaning Summary
Lonely Hope for Return
The poem is a speaker’s plain, heartfelt longing for a beloved young Highlander who has gone abroad. Winter imagery—frosty breezes, snow-covered hills, naked trees—reflects the speaker’s cold loneliness while the rover wanders far away. The speaker entrusts his safety to Heaven and repeatedly asks for his return to Strathspey and Castle-Gordon. As the season promises renewal—birds singing, leaves returning, flowers springing—the poem links natural revival with the hoped-for reunion, framing absence and faith in a simple, steady emotional plea.
Read Complete AnalysesLoud blaw the frosty breezes, The snaws the mountains cover; Like winter on me seizes Since my young Highland rover Far wanders nations over. Where'er he go, where'er he stray, May Heaven be his warden; Return him safe to fair Strathspey, And bonie Castle-Gordon. The trees now naked groaning Shall soon wi' leaves be hinging, The birdies dowie moaning Shall a' be blythely singing, And every flower be springing. Sae I'll rejoice the lee-lang day, When by his mighty Warden My Youth's return'd to fair Strathspey And bonie Castle-Gordon.
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