On the Death of John M’Leod, Esq.

Sad thy tale, thou idle page,
And rueful thy alarms:
Death tears the brother of her love
From Isabella’s arms.

Sweetly deckt with pearly dew
The morning rose may blow;
But cold successive noontide blasts
May lay its beauties low.

Fair on Isabella’s morn
The sun propitious smil’d;
But, long ere noon, succeeding clouds
Succeeding hopes beguil’d.

Fate oft tears the bosom chords
That Nature finest strung;
So Isabella’s heart was form’d,
And so that heart was wrung.

Dread Omnipotence alone
Can heal the wound he gave—
Can point the brimful grief-worn eyes
To scenes beyond the grave.

Virtue’s blossoms there shall blow,
And fear no withering blast;
There Isabella’s spotless worth
Shall happy be at last.

Published in Poems and Songs of Robert Burns

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