Word High July: Kundiman

Ok, let me tell you the story. This was a day during my high school, when early in the morning while flipping through ‘The Winged Word‘, a classic book of poetry (also my favorite), I came across a poem by Robert Burns, titled ‘A Red Red Rose‘. I had liked it immensely and read it a number of times to get a better feel and also to capture the style of it.

Later when I was at school, a friend of mine asked me if I could help him write something wonderful which he wanted to put in a letter for his gf. It was some important occasion for their relationship. With the memory of my morning poetry, I at once began to speak the lines and surprised my friend (and also myself) by reciting the whole of it, except the last stanza which didn’t come immediately to my mind.

My friend was so glad; jubilant that I had got him a solution so quickly, began to insist excitedly- “Please help me write it down on paper! Please,Please,Please! ” Haha! With this pleasant reminiscence, I would like to share with you that lovely poem by Robert Burns(which was written in 1794), which I recalled as I noticed the next prompt for Word High July-  Kundiman, love song!

A Red Red Rose

by Robert Burns

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

   That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

   That’s sweetly played in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

   So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

   Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

   And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

   While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

   And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

   Though it were ten thousand mile.

 

(Source of above image: Robert_Burns )

In response to Word-High July: 30 Beautiful Filipino Words: Kundiman