The Rigs o' Barley by Robert Burns
The speaker recalls a Lammas night when he went to Annie beneath a clear moon and, after gentle persuasion, she agreed to walk with him through the barley fields. Among the corn and barley rigs, in still air and bright moonlight, he sits with her, knows her heart is his, and kisses her repeatedly. He holds her closely, feels her heart beating, and blesses the place and night that brought them together, believing Annie will always cherish it too. Though he has enjoyed companions, drink, prosperity, and happy thoughts, he judges that this night with Annie among the rigs o’ barley surpassed every other pleasure.
By Robert Burns · First published 1787 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Pastoral Poetry · 419 words
First lines
Tune-"Corn Rigs are bonie."
It was upon a Lammas night, / When corn rigs are bonie, / Beneath the moon's unclouded light, / I held awa to Annie; / The time flew by, wi' tentless heed, / Till, 'tween the late and early, / Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed / To see me thro' the barley.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A first-person, highly musical poem expressing intense personal happiness, desire, and remembrance through compact stanzas and a recurring refrain.
- Love Poetry — The poem centers on the speaker's affectionate and sensual encounter with Annie, whom he remembers as the source of his greatest happiness.
- Pastoral Poetry — Its romantic action unfolds in an idealized rural landscape of corn and barley fields, moonlight, still wind, and harvest-time beauty.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — Burns writes in Scots dialect, using vocabulary and rhythms rooted in Scottish speech and rural cultural life.
Tags
Scottish love song · pastoral romance · courtship · rural Scotland · Lammas night · harvest season · barley fields · corn rigs · moonlight · summer night · Annie · romantic memory
What this Textopian page supports
The Rigs o' Barley is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1787 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: 1787 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Pastoral Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Folk Song
- Length: 419 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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