I Love my Love in Secret by Robert Burns

Name: I Love my Love in Secret
Author: Robert Burns

The speaker recalls Sandy giving her a diamond-set ring, for which she gives him something more precious: her heart, pledged to his ring. Although she cannot openly show the love she owes him, she declares that she loves Sandy secretly. Sandy, weeping, breaks a piece of gold in two and gives her one half, which she vows to keep until her death.

By Robert Burns · First published 1803 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Folk Song · 161 words

First lines

My Sandy gied to me a ring, / Was a' beset wi' diamonds fine; / But I gied him a far better thing, / I gied my heart in pledge o' his ring.

Chorus. -My Sandy O, my Sandy O, / My bonie, bonie Sandy O; / Tho' the love that I owe / To thee I dare na show, / Yet I love my love in secret, my Sandy O.

My Sandy brak a piece o' gowd, / While down his cheeks the saut tears row'd; / He took a hauf, and gied it to me, / And I'll keep it till the hour I die. / My Sand O, &c.

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Genres

Lyric Poetry — The work is a short, emotionally concentrated poem expressing the speaker's private devotion through musical repetition, imagery, and a recurring chorus.
Love Poetry — Its central subject is the speaker's enduring love for Sandy, symbolized by exchanged gifts, a pledged heart, tears, and a promise to preserve a token until death.
Scottish Folk Song — Written in Scots dialect and structured with verses and a refrain, the poem closely resembles a traditional Scottish song or ballad lyric intended for singing.
Romantic Poetry — The poem emphasizes intense personal feeling, idealized belovedness, emotional sincerity, and the value of heartfelt attachment over material wealth.

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I Love my Love in Secret is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1803 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Burns
Date: 1803 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Folk Song, Romantic Poetry, Secret Love Poetry
Length: 161 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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