Paraphrasing 'Afton Water'
(by an 11 year old girl)
This is a song written by Robert Burns, where the river flow's gently
among the hills he dreams and praises. All the beauty of the countryside
around Cumnock through which the river Afton flows. His thoughts
are that Mary is sleeping next to the stream and don't disturb this
dream. The stock-doves' sounds are heard around the glen. The blackbirds
are whistling and chirping on the thorny bushes. The pleasant screaming
of green crested lapwings he enjoys. I'm warning you don't wake
her up. Daily the sweet neighbouring hills of the river Afton are
always in Robert Burn's thoughts as he walk's along the banks of
the river. There he thinks of the cottage where Mary was born. He
then goes on:
"How pleasant thy banks and green valleys below,
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow;
There oft as mild Ev'ning weeps over the lea,
The sweet?scented birk shades Mary and me."
His enjoyment was out in the country and thinking about the
"Thy crystal stream Afton, how lovely it glides,
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,
As gathering sweet flowerets she stems thy clear wave.
He wishes that his memories of the happy time he spent with Mary
will linger as long as
"Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, sweet river the theme of my lays;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream!"
TRY PARAPHRASING OTHER POEMS AND SONGS BY ROBERT BURNS.
|
