Lovely Polly Stewart
written in 1791
O lovely Polly Stewart! O charming Polly Stewart! There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May, That's hauf sae sweet as thou art. The flower it blaws, it fades, it fa's, And art can ne'er renew it; But Worth and Truth, eternal youth Will gie to Polly Stewart. May he, whase arms shall fauld thy charms, Possess a leal and true heart! To him be given, to ken the Heaven He grasps in Polly Stewart! O lovely Polly Stewart! O charming Polly Stewart! There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May, That's hauf sae sweet as thou art.
Lovely Polly Stewart - meaning Summary
Enduring Praise of a Beloved
This short lyric is a straightforward declaration of admiration and hope. The speaker praises Polly Stewart’s sweetness by contrasting her with a transient flower, arguing that while blooms fade, Polly’s worth and truth grant her lasting youth. The poem moves from praise to a benediction: the speaker wishes that any man who embraces her will have a faithful heart and thereby grasp heaven through her. Its tone is simple, affectionate, and moralizing, emphasizing constancy and inner worth over physical beauty.
Read Complete Analyses
Feel free to be first to leave comment.