When I Think on the Happy Days (Poem by Robert Burns)

When I Think on the Happy Days (1)

By Robert Burns

When I think on the happy days

I spent wi’ you, my dearie;

And now what lands between us lie,

How can I be but eerie!

When I Think on the Happy Days (2)

How slow ye move, ye heavy hours,

As ye were wae and weary!

It was na sae ye glinted by,

When I was wi’ my dearie.

NOTE:

These verses were in latter years expanded by Burns into a song, for the collection of Thomson: the song will be found in its place: the variations are worthy of preservation.

Poem Analysis:

"When I think on the Happy Days" by Robert Burns is a short, melancholic poem that explores the theme of separation and the longing for past happiness. The poem is composed of two quatrains, each expressing the speaker's feelings of melancholy and nostalgia as they reflect on the joyful moments they shared with their beloved, who is now distant. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, themes, and literary devices to uncover its emotional depth.

Themes:

1. Nostalgia: The primary theme of the poem is nostalgia. The speaker looks back fondly on the happy days spent with their beloved, and these memories evoke a sense of longing and sadness due to their physical separation.
2. Time and Change: The poem touches upon the inevitability of time and change. The speaker reflects on how the passage of time has led to the physical separation between them and their beloved, making them acutely aware of the slowness of time in their absence.

Structure:

"When I think on the Happy Days" consists of two quatrains, with each quatrain presenting a distinct thought or emotion. The short, compact structure of the poem mirrors the brevity of the speaker's reflections.

Analysis:

1. "When I think on the happy days": The poem begins with the speaker's contemplation of the past. The use of the word "happy" underscores the joy that the speaker once experienced with their beloved, setting the tone for the nostalgic theme of the poem.
2. "And now what lands between us lie": This line highlights the physical separation between the speaker and their beloved. The phrase "what lands between us lie" suggests not just geographical distance but also a sense of emotional and temporal separation.
3. "How slow ye move, ye heavy hours": The speaker personifies time as moving slowly and heavily, emphasizing the agony of waiting and longing for their beloved. The personification of time serves to intensify the feeling of melancholy.
4. "As ye were wae and weary!": The words "wae" (woeful) and "weary" evoke a sense of sadness and fatigue, further emphasizing the speaker's emotional state in their beloved's absence.
5. "It was na sae ye glinted by, when I was wi’ my dearie": The final line of the poem contrasts the slow, heavy passage of time in the present with the swiftness of time in the past when the speaker was with their beloved. The use of "glinted" suggests that time passed quickly and joyfully during those happy days.

"When I think on the Happy Days" by Robert Burns is a brief yet emotionally resonant poem that delves into the themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. Through the speaker's reflections, the poem captures the longing and melancholy that arise from the physical separation from a beloved. The contrast between the past and the present serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of happiness and the enduring impact of cherished memories.