It is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face by Robert Burns
The speaker tells Jean that his love is not based merely on her beautiful face, figure, grace, or power to awaken desire. He finds much in every part of her to praise and love, but values her mind even more dearly than her outward form. His deepest wish is not selfish possession of her but her happiness: if he cannot make her happy himself, he still wants to see her blessed. He declares that her well-being would satisfy him, and that, just as he wishes to live with her, he would be willing to die for her.
By Robert Burns · First published 1792 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Romantic Poetry · 159 words
First lines
It is na, Jean, thy bonie face, / Nor shape that I admire; / Altho' thy beauty and thy grace / Might weel awauk desire.
Something, in ilka part o' thee, / To praise, to love, I find, / But dear as is thy form to me, / Still dearer is thy mind.
Nae mair ungenerous wish I hae, / Nor stronger in my breast, / Than, if I canna make thee sae, / At least to see thee blest.
Content am I, if heaven shall give / But happiness, to thee; / And as wi' thee I'd wish to live, / For thee I'd bear to die.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, musical first-person poem expressing intimate personal feeling through regular stanzas, rhyme, and concentrated language.
- Love Poetry — The speaker addresses Jean with affection, admiration, devotion, and a wish for her happiness above his own.
- Romantic Poetry — The poem idealizes emotional attachment, inner virtue, selfless devotion, and the beloved's spiritual and personal qualities.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — Burns writes in Scots-inflected language, including words such as 'nae,' 'bonie,' 'ilka,' 'weel,' and 'wi',' grounding the poem in Scottish literary tradition.
Tags
love poetry · Scottish song · Scottish dialect · romantic devotion · Jean Armour · idealized beloved · inner beauty · beauty and virtue · admiration of the mind · selfless love · beloved's happiness · unrequited possibility
What this Textopian page supports
It is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face 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, Love Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Sentimental Poetry
- Length: 159 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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