Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Crockston (Crookston, Cruxtoun)

Through Crockston Castle’s Lanely Wa’s

By Robert Tannahill (1774–1810)

THROUGH Crockston Castle’s lanely wa’s

The wintry wind howls wild and dreary;

Though mirk the cheerless e’ening fa’s,

Yet I ha’e vowed to meet my Mary.

Yes, Mary, though the winds should rave

Wi’ jealous spite to keep me frae thee,

The darkest stormy night I ’d brave,

For ae sweet secret moment wi’ thee.

Loud o’er Cardonald’s rocky steep

Rude Cartha pours in boundless measure;

But I will ford the whirling deep,

That roars between me and my treasure.

Yes, Mary, though the torrent rave,

Wi’ jealous spite, to keep me frae thee,

Its deepest flood I ’d bauldly brave,

For ae sweet secret moment wi’ thee.

The watch-dog’s howling loads the blast,

And makes the nightly wanderer eerie;

But when the lonesome way is past,

I ’ll to this bosom clasp my Mary!

Yes, Mary, though stern winter rave,

With a’ his storms, to keep me frae thee,

The wildest dreary night I ’d brave,

For ae sweet secret moment wi’ thee.