CONTINUING National Poetry Day's water theme.

this is at once a love song and an affectionate description of the Ayrshire river. Burns's song has two tunes, the original one of greater musical merit than its Victorian rival, though both are popular.

AFTON WATER

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes.

Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

How lofty, sweeet Afton, thy neighbouring hills,

Far mark'd with the courses of clear, winding rills;

There daily I wander as noon rises high,

My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye.

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 my Mary and me.

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 sweets flowerets she stems thy clear wave.