The Day Returns (Poem by Robert Burns)

The Day Returns

By Robert Burns

(1)

The day returns, my bosom burns,

    The blissful day we twa did meet,

Tho’ winter wild in tempest toil’d,

    Ne’er summer-sun was half sae sweet.

Than a’ the pride that loads the tide,

    And crosses o’er the sultry line;

Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes,

    Heaven gave me more — it made thee mine!

(2)

While day and night can bring delight,

    Or nature aught of pleasure give,

While joys above my mind can move,

    For thee, and thee alone I live.

When that grim foe of life below,

    Comes in between to make us part,

The iron hand that breaks our band,

    It breaks my bliss — it breaks my heart.

Note:

The seventh of November was the anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Riddel, of Friars-Carse, and these verses were composed in compliment to the day.

Poem Analysis:

Robert Burns’ poem “The Day Returns” is a lyrical celebration of love, passion, and devotion. Written in honor of the anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Riddel’s marriage, the poem explores love as a transcendent force that surpasses all material wealth, power, and even the fear of death. Through its rhythmic structure, emotive language, and vivid contrasts between natural elements and human emotions, the poem captures both the joy of union and the anxiety of separation.

Structure and Form

The poem consists of two stanzas of eight lines each with a regular rhyme scheme (ABABCDCD). This structured form gives the poem a musical and celebratory tone, suitable for the occasion it commemorates. The rhythm and flow echo the songlike quality of much of Burns’ work, reflecting his mastery of lyrical poetry.

The first stanza opens with a tone of warmth and remembrance:

“The day returns, my bosom burns,

The blissful day we twa did meet.”

The word “returns” emphasizes the cyclical nature of time, while “my bosom burns” conveys the enduring passion and emotional intensity the speaker associates with the memory of that meeting. Burns draws a vivid contrast between external seasons and inner emotions:

“Tho’ winter wild in tempest toil’d,

Ne’er summer-sun was half sae sweet.”

Here, love is portrayed as a force so powerful that it renders even the most pleasant natural phenomena—like summer’s warmth—pale in comparison. The stanza continues by elevating love above worldly wealth and power:

“Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes,

Heaven gave me more — it made thee mine!”

This statement suggests that love is both divine and priceless, a gift far surpassing earthly possessions or status.

The second stanza deepens the poem’s emotional tone by expressing an unwavering commitment to the beloved:

“While day and night can bring delight,

Or nature aught of pleasure give,

While joys above my mind can move,

For thee, and thee alone I live.”

The repetition of “while” gives the lines a rhythmic persistence, reinforcing the enduring and singular nature of this love. The speaker declares that as long as joy or pleasure exists, it is tied entirely to the presence of the beloved.

However, Burns introduces a darker note with the mention of death:

“When that grim foe of life below,

Comes in between to make us part,

The iron hand that breaks our band,

It breaks my bliss — it breaks my heart.”

The metaphor of death as “that grim foe” with an “iron hand” highlights both the inevitability and cruelty of mortality. Yet, even in contemplating this separation, the depth of love remains clear—the breaking of the bond is equated with the shattering of the speaker’s very happiness and heart.

Themes

1. The Power of Love: Burns elevates romantic love to a divine and eternal force, greater than wealth, status, or even the natural world.
2. Memory and Celebration: The poem is rooted in the remembrance of a significant day, turning a personal anniversary into a universal meditation on love’s enduring sweetness.
3. The Inevitability of Death: While celebrating love, Burns acknowledges its fragility in the face of death, lending the poem a bittersweet undertone.
4. Nature vs. Human Emotion: The imagery of winter storms and summer suns is used to underscore the strength of the speaker’s feelings, which surpass any natural force.

Language and Style

Burns’ language is emotive, direct, and musical, using simple yet powerful words like “burns,” “sweet,” and “bliss” to convey emotional intensity. His use of Scots words like “twa” adds a regional authenticity and lyrical charm. The contrasts—between winter and summer, crowns and love, life and death—are sharp and evocative, creating a dynamic tension throughout the poem.

Tone

The tone of the poem is celebratory, passionate, and tender, with a shift toward a solemn, almost mournful note in the second stanza. Burns balances the joy of love’s presence with the poignant awareness of its vulnerability.

“The Day Returns” is a testament to Robert Burns’ ability to combine personal sentiment with universal themes. By celebrating love as a gift more valuable than power or riches, the poem speaks to the enduring human desire for emotional connection and devotion. The acknowledgment of death does not diminish the poem’s passion but instead intensifies its message: that true love is both life’s greatest joy and its most profound sorrow when threatened by separation.