Phillis the Fair by Robert Burns

On a spring morning walk, the speaker delights in birdsong and compares the dawn and blooming rosebuds to Phillis's beauty. Seeing a hawk caught in a snare near cooing doves, the speaker wishes the same fate on anyone who would harm her.

By Robert Burns · Genre: Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 205 words

First lines

Tune-"Robin Adair."

While larks, with little wing, / Fann'd the pure air, / Tasting the breathing Spring, / Forth I did fare: / Gay the sun's golden eye / Peep'd o'er the mountains high; / Such thy morn! did I cry, / Phillis the fair.

In each bird's careless song, / Glad I did share; / While yon wild-flowers among, / Chance led me there! / Sweet to the op'ning day, / Rosebuds bent the dewy spray; / Such thy bloom! did I say, / Phillis the fair.

Down in a shady walk, / Doves cooing were; / I mark'd the cruel hawk / Caught in a snare: / So kind may fortune be, / Such make his destiny, / He who would injure thee, / Phillis the fair.

• Open reader

Genres

• Love Poetry — The speaker addresses Phillis with admiring comparisons to dawn and rosebuds, then wishes her protection from anyone who would injure her.
• Lyric Poetry — Three rhymed stanzas express the speaker's delight and affection, repeat an address to Phillis, and carry a specified tune.

Tags

spring · affection · beauty · birdsong · rosebuds · protection

What this Textopian page supports

Phillis the Fair is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated Date unknown.

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: Date unknown
• Language: English
• Genres: Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry
• Length: 205 words
• Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Phillis the Fair by Robert Burns
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
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More by Robert Burns

• Handsome Nell (1808)
• O Tibbie, I Hae Seen the Day (1786)
• I Dream'D I Lay (1792)
• In the Character of a Ruined Farmer (1786)
• Tragic Fragment (1786)
• The Tarbolton Lasses (1808)
• Ah, Woe is me, my Mother Dear (1808)
• Montgomerie's Peggy (1790)
• All works by Robert Burns