I'M o'Er Young to Marry Yet by Robert Burns
A young woman repeatedly insists that she is too young to marry and should not yet be taken from her mammie. As her mother’s only child, she feels uneasy among strangers and fears sharing a man’s bed. She also worries that a new gown bought by her mammie for the kirk might have its lacing spoiled. Though winter has brought long nights and a suitor proposes that they lie together, she does not dare agree. In the cold, windy season, she tells him that if he comes again by summer, she will be older.
By Robert Burns · First published 1792 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Folk Song, Love Poetry · 269 words
First lines
Chorus. -I'm o'er young, I'm o'er young, / I'm o'er young to marry yet; / I'm o'er young, 'twad be a sin / To tak me frae my mammy yet.
I am my mammny's ae bairn, / Wi' unco folk I weary, sir; / And lying in a man's bed, / I'm fley'd it mak me eerie, sir. / I'm o'er young, &c.
My mammie coft me a new gown, / The kirk maun hae the gracing o't; / Were I to lie wi' you, kind Sir, / I'm feared ye'd spoil the lacing o't. / I'm o'er young, &c.
Hallowmass is come and gane, / The nights are lang in winter, sir, / And you an' I in ae bed, / In trowth, I dare na venture, sir. / I'm o'er young, &c.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, songlike poem structured around a recurring chorus and expressive first-person voice.
- Scottish Folk Song — Its refrain, Scots dialect, seasonal imagery, and courtship subject strongly reflect Scottish vernacular song traditions.
- Love Poetry — The speaker addresses a prospective lover and treats courtship, marriage, sexual intimacy, and delayed consent as central concerns.
- Courtship Song — The poem dramatizes a young woman's response to a suitor, postponing marriage while leaving open the possibility of a future relationship.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · Scots language · courtship · marriage reluctance · female speaker · youth and innocence · mother-daughter bond · only child · fear of marriage · sexual apprehension · premarital intimacy · female modesty
What this Textopian page supports
I'M o'Er Young to Marry Yet is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1792 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1792 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Folk Song, Love Poetry, Courtship Song, Comic Poetry
- Length: 269 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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