A Red, Red, Rose and so We’ll Go No More A-roving: Poetry Comparison

Compare ‘A Red, Red, Rose’ to ‘So We’ll Go No More A-Roving. How do they convey feelings of desire and loss? Both a ‘Red, Red, Rose’ and so we’ll go no more a-roving’ are wrote in ballad form. They are romantic poems about desire, loss and regret. ‘So we’ll go no more a-roving’ (L1) is to be spoken with regret in a melancholic tone. Byron knows and accepts that he can no longer go out ‘So late into the night’ (L2) he shrugs of his wanting with the use of the word ‘So’ but the desire is still there even though it can no longer be achieved. ‘Though the heart still be as loving, And the moon still be as bright’ (L3-4). Even though the moon is old like him it can still stay out late into the night.

The moon is a representation for Byron still being young of mind, his emotional will and desire to go out are still as bright as they were when he was young. Now he is too old to do all of these things he used to do and still wants to do. Byron is reminiscing about his past and looking back wishing/desiring that he can do them all over again and relive the experiences once again unfortunately he knows that this is not possible and is regretful over this. ‘For the sword outwears its sheath’ (L5) this represents how Byron was in his youthfulness his ability to dual, stand up for his self and generally take part in energetic activities. Even though Byron still wants to do all of these things and in spirit he is still able, but his body is too worn to let him. ‘And the soul wears out the breast’ (L6). Byron’s soul will last forever wanting to stay out late into the night but again his old worn out body is too tired for Byron to have the physical ability to carry out his emotional desires.

Yet Byron will still be desiring long after his body has decayed. ‘And the heart must pause to breath’ (L7) Byron’s heart skips a beat at the intensity of the emotional desires in which he feels. As is the case with many older people, when they have become overwhelmed with emotion, reminiscing about their past or have taken part in an exercise which is a little too strenuous for them, they have to pause, sit down for a while to take a breath, calm down and collect their thoughts together. ‘And love itself have a rest’ (L8). Byron must put his own feelings and desires away while he collects himself to realize that they can no longer be for filled, so there is no point in getting worked up about them.

Though the night was made for loving, And the day returns too soon’ (L9-10). Although the night is perfect for going out and having fun and the spirit is willing in flesh/ in body he is not able. The night is not long enough and time for him is also running out ‘Yet we’ll go no more a-roving, By the light of the moon’ (L11- 12). The moon is a representation for all of the emotional feelings and desires that Byron is having. The moon will still be there late into the night as will his soul long after he and his old worn body has gone.

A Red, Red Rose’ compared to this is also wrote in a musical ballad tone, with the same theme as ‘So we’ll go no more a-roving’ of time passing and running out. Burn’s feels that he will love his lady forever ‘Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun’ (L9-10) because the sea will never go dry and rocks will never melt, but eventually his love for her runs out and he no longer has the ability to love her. ‘And fare thee awhile’ (L14). His time for loving her runs out and he must go away ‘And I will come again, my luve, Though it were ten thousand mile’ (L15-16). He is wanting to go back to her and feel the way he did for her before. This is similar to Byron he no longer has the ability to go out late into the night but both have the desire to repeat and experience what they once had though neither can go back to experience the feelings again.

Both poets feel intense emotions of desire for the feelings/emotions that they have lost. Byron shrugs off his desires with ‘So’ but Burn’s tells his lady and himself that he will be back in order to disguise his emotions and desires.