The Winter it is Past by Robert Burns
The speaker contrasts the arrival of summer, singing birds, blooming roses, and the contentment of small creatures with personal sorrow. Although the natural world is glad and other lovers seem blessed and at peace, the speaker remains sad because a true love is parted from them.
By Robert Burns · First published 1792 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Pastoral Poetry · 106 words
First lines
The winter it is past, and the summer comes at last / And the small birds, they sing on ev'ry tree; / Now ev'ry thing is glad, while I am very sad, / Since my true love is parted from me.
The rose upon the breer, by the waters running clear, / May have charms for the linnet or the bee; / Their little loves are blest, and their little hearts at rest, / But my true love is parted from me.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is a short, musical first-person poem focused on a single emotional condition: sorrow over separation from a beloved.
- Love Poetry — Its central subject is the speaker's grief because a true love has departed, contrasted with the contentment of birds and other lovers.
- Pastoral Poetry — The poem frames private heartbreak through idealized rural imagery, including summer, singing birds, roses, clear water, linnets, and bees.
- Scottish Folk Song — Its simple repeated refrain, songlike rhythm, vernacular diction, and traditional romantic motif align it with Scottish folk-song and ballad traditions.
Tags
Scottish lyric poetry · song lyric · love lament · separation · absent beloved · unrequited sorrow · melancholy · seasonal renewal · winter to summer · summer · nature and emotion · contrast
What this Textopian page supports
The Winter it is Past 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, Pastoral Poetry, Scottish Folk Song, Lament
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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