1

Thou lingering Star with lessening ray
That lovest to greet the early morn,
Again thou usherest in the day
My Mary from my Soul was torn —
O Mary! dear, departed Shade!
Where is thy place of blissful rest?
Seest thou thy Lover lowly laid?
Hearest thou the groans that rend his breast?

2

That sacred hour can I forget,
Can I forget the hallowed grove,
Where by the winding Ayr we met,
To live one day of Parting Love?
Eternity can not efface
Those records dear of transports past;
Thy image at our last embrace,
Ah, little thought we 'twas our last!

3

Ayr gurgling kissed his pebbled shore,
O'erhung with wild-woods, thick'ning, green;
The fragrant birch, and hawthorn hoar,
Twined, am'rous, round the raptured scene:
The flowers sprang wanton to be prest,
The birds sang love on ev'ry spray;
Till too, too soon the glowing west
Proclaimed the speed of winged day. —

4

Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes,
And fondly broods with miser-care;
Time but th' impression stronger makes,
As streams their channels deeper wear:
My Mary, dear, departed Shade!
Where is thy place of blissful rest!
Seest thou thy Lover lowly laid!
Hearest thou the groans that rend his breast!