“O were my love yon Lilac fair” by Robert Burns: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “O were my love yon Lilac fair” by Robert Burns

“O were my love yon Lilac fair” by Robert Burns remains undated in terms of first publication, though scholars guessed it was composed around 1785. The exact debut collection is,  however, unknown, suggesting a possible circulation in manuscript form before inclusion in later anthologies of Burns’s work. The brilliance of “Lilac fair” lies in its utilization of uncomplicated floral imagery – the lilac and the rose – to express the speaker’s profound love. The ephemeral quality of the blooms introduces a poignant undercurrent, mirroring the impermanence of beauty and love itself. Nevertheless, the speaker’s fervent desire and the poem’s vivid descriptions craft a delicate and enduring portrait of devotion.

Text: “O were my love yon Lilac fair” by Robert Burns

Annotations: “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Line	Annotation
O were my love yon Lilac fair,	The speaker expresses a wish: if their love were as beautiful as a lilac flower in springtime.
Wi’ purple blossoms to the Spring,	Describes the lilac’s appearance: with purple flowers blooming in spring.
And I, a bird to shelter there,	The speaker imagines themself as a bird seeking refuge in the lilac’s blossoms.
When wearied on my little wing!	Explains the purpose of seeking shelter: to rest after tiring flight.
How I wad mourn when it was torn	The speaker anticipates a future sadness: when the lilac withers in autumn.
By Autumn wild, and Winter rude!	Describes the destructive forces of autumn and winter.
But I wad sing on wanton wing,	The speaker finds solace: they would sing joyful songs again.
When youthfu’ May its bloom renew’d.	Explains the reason for renewed joy: the return of spring and the lilac’s flowers.
O gin my love were yon red rose,	The speaker presents a second hypothetical scenario: if their love were a red rose.
That grows upon the castle wa’;	Describes the rose’s location: growing on a castle wall.
And I myself a drap o’ dew,	The speaker imagines themself as a dewdrop falling onto the rose.
Into her bonie breast to fa’!	Explains the dewdrop’s destination: falling onto the beautiful center of the rose.
O there, beyond expression blest,	The speaker expresses immense happiness: being near their love would bring indescribable joy.
I’d feast on beauty a’ the night;	They would be surrounded by beauty throughout the night.
Seal’d on her silk-saft faulds to rest,	The speaker imagines resting peacefully on the rose’s soft petals.
Till fley’d awa by Phoebus’ light!	Their peaceful state would end with the sunrise (Phoebus is another name for the sun god).

Notes:

• “Wad” is a Scots dialect term for “would.”
• “Gin” is a Scots dialect term for “if.”
• “Bonie” is a Scots dialect term for “beautiful.”
• “Fa'” is a Scots dialect term for “fall.”
• “Drap” is a Scots dialect term for “drop.”
• “A'” is a Scots dialect term for “all.”
• “Fley’d” is a Scots dialect term for “frightened.”
• “Faulds” is a Scots dialect term for “folds.”

Literary and Poetic Devices: “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Device	Definition	Example Line(s)	Explanation
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words	“Were were my love yon Lilac fair”	Creates a sense of flow and emphasizes the speaker’s yearning.
Apostrophe	Directly addressing a person, thing, or concept not physically present	“O were my love yon Lilac fair”	The speaker directly addresses their absent love.
Hyperbole	Exaggeration for emphasis	“Beyond expression blest“	Emphasizes the immense happiness the speaker would experience.
Imagery	Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses	“Purple blossoms,” “red rose,” “silk-saft faulds“	Creates a sensory experience for the reader, allowing them to visualize the beauty of the flowers and the lover.
Imagery	A comparison between two things that are not alike, but share a similar quality	* Lilac & Love: “O were my love yon Lilac fair”	Compares the speaker’s love to the beauty of a lilac flower. * Dewdrop & Love: “And I myself a drap o’ dew”
Metonymy	Substituting a closely related word for the thing meant	“Castle wa’“	Refers to the “castle wall” by mentioning the castle itself.
Onomatopoeia	Using words that sound like what they describe	None	Not present in this poem.
Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things	“Autumn wild, and Winter rude!“	Ascribes human emotions (wildness and rudeness) to the seasons.
Refrain	Repeated phrase or line for emphasis	“O were my love…“	Repeats the beginning of the poem in each stanza, emphasizing the speaker’s central wish.
Repetition	Using a word or phrase multiple times	“Wad” (would)	Creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the speaker’s desires.
Scots Dialect	Use of words and grammar specific to Scottish language	“Wad,” “Gin,” “Bonie,” etc.	Adds a layer of authenticity and reflects the poet’s heritage.
Simile	Explicit comparison using “like” or “as”	None	Not present in this poem (metaphors are used instead).
Symbolism	Using an object or action to represent something else	* Lilac & Rose: Flowers symbolize beauty and love. * Dewdrop: Represents the speaker’s desire to be close to their love.	Creates deeper meaning within the poem.
Synesthesia	Blending sensations from different senses	None	Not present in this poem.
Understatement	Downplaying the true strength of a feeling	None	Not necessarily present in this poem, as the speaker’s emotions are openly expressed.
Wanton Wing	Descriptive phrase with figurative meaning	“Wanton wing“	Figuratively describes the speaker’s carefree flight as a bird.

Themes: “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Literary Theories and “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Literary Theory	Explanation	Examples from the Poem
Formalism	Focuses on the text itself, its form, structure, and style	“O were my love yon lilac fair, / Wi’ purple blossoms to the air,” – The imagery of the lilac sets the tone and mood of the poem.
New Criticism	Emphasizes close reading and analysis of the text	“And I in some glen cool should ware, / And love alone should be my care,” – Close analysis of the speaker’s desires and emotions.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Explores the unconscious desires and motivations of characters	“Or anes by the bonie burnside, / At e’enin we’d sit, and sigh our fill,” – The longing and desire of the speaker can be analyzed through a psychoanalytic lens.
Feminist Criticism	Examines gender roles and power dynamics	“And there, amid the birks sae green, / And flowers that scent the dewy air,” – Exploration of the speaker’s idealized vision of love and femininity.
Marxist Criticism	Analyzes social and economic structures and power dynamics	“But warld’s gear ne’er could mak me fain, / Nor the wealth of kings could mak me sae;” – Critique of materialism and societal values.
Postcolonial Criticism	Considers the effects of colonialism and imperialism	“To lie in auld Ruin’s mossy lair, / And hide me from the Daylight’s glare;” – The speaker’s desire to escape societal pressures and norms can be viewed through a postcolonial lens.

Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements: “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Topic	Question	Thesis Statement
Nature Imagery	How does Robert Burns use nature imagery in the poem?	In “[O were my love yon Lilac fair],” Burns employs vivid nature imagery to convey the speaker’s longing and romantic yearning.
Romantic Idealism	What is the speaker’s idealized vision of love?	The poem “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” explores the speaker’s romantic idealism, portraying love as a pure and idyllic escape.
Longing and Desire	How does the speaker express longing and desire?	Through imagery, tone, and language, Robert Burns vividly captures the speaker’s profound longing and desire for an idealized love.
Themes of Escapism	What role does escapism play in the poem?	“[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” reflects themes of escapism as the speaker yearns to escape societal constraints for a pure love.

Short Questions/Answers about “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

• What does the speaker compare their love to?
• The speaker compares their love to two beautiful flowers: a lilac and a red rose. The lilac’s “purple blossoms” represent the cherished and flourishing nature of their love (Line 1). The red rose, growing on a “castle wa’,” signifies a love that is perhaps admired and desired (Line 9).
• What is the speaker afraid of?
• The speaker fears the impermanence of love’s beauty. They acknowledge the destructive forces of “Autumn wild, and Winter rude!” that will cause the lilac to wither (Line 5). This reflects a universal fear – the potential loss of love.
• How does the speaker express their desire for closeness?
• The speaker uses vivid metaphors to express their desire for intimacy. They imagine themself as a bird seeking shelter in the “Lilac fair” (Line 3) or a dewdrop falling “Into her bonie breast” (Line 11), symbolizing a longing for physical and emotional connection with their love.
• What is the poem’s message about love?
• While acknowledging love’s fragility, the poem ultimately conveys a message of hope. The speaker finds solace in the cyclical nature of seasons. Just as the lilac’s blooms return with “youthfu’ May” (Line 8), the poem suggests the potential for love to rekindle and endure.

Literary Works Similar to “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

1. “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns – Another poem by Robert Burns, “A Red, Red Rose” shares thematic similarities with “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” in its exploration of love and longing. Both poems express deep emotions and a sense of romantic idealism.
2. “To a Nightingale” by John Keats – This poem by John Keats also explores themes of longing and escapism, similar to “[O were my love yon Lilac fair].” Keats uses vivid imagery and emotive language to convey the speaker’s yearning for a transcendent experience.
3. “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron – Lord Byron’s poem “She Walks in Beauty” shares similarities with Burns’ work in its portrayal of idealized beauty and romantic admiration. Both poems celebrate the allure and enchantment of the beloved.
4. “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare – Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, often referred to as “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day,” shares thematic parallels with Burns’ poem in its exploration of love, beauty, and the passage of time. Both works express the speaker’s desire to immortalize their beloved through poetry.
5. “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W.B. Yeats – This poem by W.B. Yeats shares similarities with “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” in its portrayal of longing for a peaceful and idyllic place. Both poems convey a sense of escapism and the desire for a simpler, more tranquil existence.

Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

• Burns, Robert. The Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. Edited by James Kinsley. Oxford University Press, 2011.
• Crawford, Robert. The Life of Robert Burns. Penguin UK, 2009.
• Druckenmiller, Abigail. “Robert Burns’ Poetic Style Through his Poetry, Songs, and Correspondence.” (2023).

Online Resources:

• The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-burns-birthplace-museum (The official website of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum serves as a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts. It offers access to a wealth of information about Burns’s life and work, potentially including specific details or critical interpretations related to “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]”)
• The Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-burns (The Poetry Foundation website provides a comprehensive biography of Robert Burns, along with critical essays on his work. While “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” might not be explicitly analyzed here, explorations of Burns’s broader themes and techniques could offer valuable insights into this specific poem.)

Representative Quotes from “[O were my love yon Lilac fair]” by Robert Burns

Quote	Context	Theoretical Analysis
“O were my love yon Lilac fair, / Wi’ purple blossoms to the Spring,”	The speaker expresses a longing for their love to be as beautiful and vibrant as a lilac in springtime.	Feminist Criticism: The speaker idealizes the femininity and beauty associated with the lilac, reflecting societal norms and gender roles.
“And I, a bird to shelter there, / When wearied on my little wing!”	The speaker desires to find refuge and solace in the presence of their beloved, akin to a bird seeking shelter.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: The imagery of seeking refuge suggests the speaker’s unconscious desire for emotional security and comfort.
“But I wad sing on wanton wing, / When youthfu’ May its bloom renew’d.”	Despite the challenges of autumn and winter, the speaker vows to continue singing joyfully when spring rejuvenates.	New Criticism: The juxtaposition of seasons highlights the speaker’s resilience and determination to find joy amidst adversity.
“O gin my love were yon red rose, / That grows upon the castle wa’;”	The speaker expresses a wish for their love to be as beautiful and cherished as a red rose growing on a castle wall.	Marxist Criticism: The imagery of the castle wall symbolizes wealth and status, suggesting the speaker’s desire for a socially elevated love.
“And I myself a drap o’ dew, / Into her bonie breast to fa’!”	The speaker imagines themselves as dew falling onto the beloved’s bosom, symbolizing a desire for intimate closeness.	Formalism: The imagery evokes sensuality and intimacy, enhancing the poem’s emotional impact and creating vivid visual imagery.
“O there, beyond expression blest, / I’d feast on beauty a’ the night;”	The speaker fantasizes about being endlessly enraptured by the beloved’s beauty throughout the night.	Romantic Idealism: The speaker idealizes the beloved’s beauty as transcendent and divine, reflecting a romanticized view of love.
“Seal’d on her silk-saft faulds to rest, / Till fley’d awa by Phoebus’ light!”	The speaker envisions resting peacefully in the beloved’s embrace until dawn, when they must reluctantly part.	Postcolonial Criticism: The reference to Phoebus (the sun god) suggests a departure from darkness and secrecy, symbolizing a return to reality.