Stay my Charmer by Robert Burns
The speaker begs a beloved “charmer” not to leave after deceiving him. He appeals to the depth of his unrequited love, to the faith the beloved once promised, and to the suffering caused when lovers are rejected, repeatedly pleading not to be abandoned.
By Robert Burns · First published 1793 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Poetry · 109 words
First lines
Tune-"An gille dubh ciar-dhubh."
Stay my charmer, can you leave me? / Cruel, cruel to deceive me; / Well you know how much you grieve me; / Cruel charmer, can you go! / Cruel charmer, can you go!
By my love so ill-requited, / By the faith you fondly plighted, / By the pangs of lovers slighted, / Do not, do not liave me so! / Do not, do not leave me so!
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is a short, emotionally concentrated verse lyric centered on the speaker's immediate personal grief and plea.
- Love Poetry — Its central subject is romantic attachment, betrayal, and the speaker's appeal to a beloved not to abandon him.
- Scottish Poetry — Written by Robert Burns and designated for the tune "An gille dubh ciar-dhubh," the poem belongs to the Scottish song and literary tradition.
- Song Lyric — The supplied tune title, repeated refrains, direct address, and regular musical phrasing indicate that it was composed as a song.
Tags
Scottish song · lyric poem · love lament · unrequited love · rejection · abandonment · pleading speaker · faithlessness · broken promises · deception · heartbreak · romantic suffering
What this Textopian page supports
Stay my Charmer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1793 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: 1793 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Poetry, Song Lyric, Lament
- Length: 109 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Stay my Charmer by Robert Burns
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