'To A Mountain Daisy' by Robert Burns
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ON TURNING ONE DOWN WITH THE PLOUGH, IN APRIL, 1786
Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r,
Thou's met me in an evil hour;
For I maun crush amang the stoure
Thy slender stem:
To spare thee now is past my pow'r,
Thou bonie gem.
Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet,
The bonie lark, companion meet,
Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet,
Wi' spreckled breast!
When upward-springing, blithe, to greet
The purpling east.
Cauld blew the bitter-biting north
Upon thy early, humble birth;
Yet cheerfully thou glinted forth
Amid the storm,
Scarce reared above the parent-earth
Thy tender form.
The flaunting flow'rs our gardens yield,
High shelt'ring woods and wa's maun shield;
But thou, beneath the random bield
O' clod or stane,
Adorns the histie stibble-field,
Unseen, alane.
There, in thy scanty mantle clad,
Thy snawy bosom sunward spread,
Thou lifts thy unassuming head
In humble guise;
But now the share uptears thy bed,
And low thou lies!
Such is the fate of artless Maid,
Sweet flow'ret of the rural shade!
By love's simplicity betrayed,
And guileless trust,
Till she, like thee, all soiled, is laid
Low i' the dust.
Such is the fate of simple Bard,
On Life's rough ocean luckless starred!
Unskilful he to note the card
Of prudent lore,
Till billows rage, and gales blow hard,
And whelm him o'er!
Such fate to suffering worth is giv'n,
Who long with wants and woes has striv'n,
By human pride or cunning driv'n
To mis'ry's brink,
Till wrenched of ev'ry stay but Heav'n,
He, ruined, sink!
Ev'n thou who mourn'st the Daisy's fate,
That fate is thine -no distant date;
Stern Ruin's ploughshare drives, elate,
Full on thy bloom,
Till crushed beneath the furrow's weight,
Shall be thy doom!
Editor 1 Interpretation
To A Mountain Daisy: A Literary Masterpiece by Robert Burns
If you are a lover of poetry, then you must have heard of Robert Burns, the Scottish bard who is renowned for his beautiful and lyrical verses. One of his most celebrated works is "To A Mountain Daisy," a poem that has captured the hearts of many for its simplicity and depth of emotion. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and literary techniques that Burns employs to make this poem a timeless masterpiece.
A Brief Overview of the Poem
"To A Mountain Daisy" is a poem that was written by Robert Burns in 1786. It is a pastoral poem that is written in the form of a conversation between the poet and a daisy that he comes across while walking in the fields. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and fragility of nature, and it is also a poignant reflection on the transience of life.
Themes in the Poem
One of the central themes in "To A Mountain Daisy" is the beauty of nature. Burns uses the daisy as a symbol of the beauty that is all around us, but which we may sometimes overlook in our busy lives. He marvels at the delicate structure of the daisy, its innocent beauty, and the way it seems to dance in the breeze. The poet also reflects on the transience of nature, and how everything in the natural world is subject to change and decay. He mourns the fact that the daisy, which was once so full of life and beauty, will soon wither and die, and he questions whether anything in this world is truly permanent.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of human mortality. Burns reflects on the fact that, just like the daisy, our lives are fleeting and impermanent. He reminds us that, no matter how much we achieve in our lives, we will all eventually pass away, leaving nothing behind but memories. The poet uses this theme to encourage his readers to live their lives to the fullest, to appreciate the beauty around them, and to make the most of the time they have.
Literary Techniques in the Poem
One of the most notable literary techniques that Burns employs in "To A Mountain Daisy" is personification. The poet gives human qualities to the daisy, imagining it as a living, breathing entity that can understand and respond to his words. This technique serves to create a sense of intimacy between the poet and the daisy, and it also helps to emphasize the fragility of nature and the human condition.
Another technique that is used in the poem is imagery. Burns uses vivid descriptions of the daisy and the natural environment around it to create a sense of visual beauty in the reader's mind. He describes the daisy's "wee modest crimson-tippèd flower," its "bonnie, sweet, and fair" petals, and the way it "weeps" in the breeze. These vivid descriptions serve to make the daisy and the natural world around it come alive in the reader's imagination.
The use of rhyme and meter is also an important aspect of the poem. The poem is written in a four-line stanza, with the rhyme scheme ABAB. This simple and elegant structure serves to reinforce the themes of simplicity and beauty that are at the heart of the poem. The meter is in iambic tetrameter, which gives the poem a gentle and rhythmic flow that mirrors the natural environment that Burns is describing.
Interpretation of the Poem
"To A Mountain Daisy" is a poem that is full of deep emotion and meaning. It is a celebration of the beauty of nature, and an acknowledgement of the fragility of life. Burns uses the daisy as a symbol of the natural world, and he reflects on the way that everything in the natural world is subject to change and decay. The poet also reminds us of our own mortality, and urges us to make the most of the time we have.
What is particularly striking about this poem is the sense of intimacy that Burns creates between the poet and the daisy. The use of personification and vivid imagery helps to make the daisy come alive in the reader's imagination, and it also creates a sense of empathy and connection between the poet and the natural world. This sense of intimacy serves to reinforce the themes of simplicity, beauty, and fragility that are at the heart of the poem.
In conclusion, "To A Mountain Daisy" is a masterful work of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a celebration of the beauty of nature, and a poignant reflection on the transience of life. Burns employs a variety of literary techniques to create a sense of intimacy between the poet and the natural world, and he urges his readers to appreciate the beauty around them and to make the most of the time they have. This is a poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To A Mountain Daisy: A Timeless Ode to Nature
Robert Burns, the celebrated Scottish poet, is known for his love for nature and his ability to capture its essence in his works. One of his most famous poems, To A Mountain Daisy, is a beautiful ode to the simple yet exquisite beauty of a daisy growing on a hillside. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this classic poem and understand why it continues to be relevant even today.
The poem, written in 1786, is addressed to a daisy that Burns comes across while walking on the hills near his home. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:
"Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r, Thou's met me in an evil hour; For I maun crush amang the stoure Thy slender stem: To spare thee now is past my pow'r, Thou bonie gem."
The speaker addresses the daisy as a "wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r," acknowledging its small size and unassuming nature. He then laments that he has to crush it while walking through the hills, as it is in his path. The use of the word "stoure" (meaning dust or debris) adds to the imagery of the rugged terrain and the harshness of the environment in which the daisy grows. The speaker acknowledges that he cannot spare the daisy, but he also recognizes its beauty and calls it a "bonie gem."
The poem then takes a turn as the speaker reflects on the daisy's life and its place in the natural world:
"I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request; I'll get a blessin wi' the lave, And never miss't!"
The speaker acknowledges that the daisy may sometimes take nutrients from other plants, but he sees this as a natural part of the cycle of life. He refers to a "daimen-icker in a thrave," which means a single ear of corn in a sheaf. This is a metaphor for the daisy's small existence in the larger scheme of things. The speaker then says that he will not miss the nutrients that the daisy takes, and he will still be blessed with the rest of the harvest.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn as the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life:
"But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain; The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!"
The speaker addresses a mouse, acknowledging that it is not alone in experiencing the unpredictability of life. He refers to the famous line from Scottish poet Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse" which reads "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley." The speaker reflects on how even the best-laid plans can go awry, leaving us with nothing but grief and pain instead of the promised joy.
The poem then returns to the daisy, as the speaker reflects on its beauty and its place in the natural world:
"Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me! The present only toucheth thee: But och! I backward cast my e'e On prospects drear! An' forward, tho' I canna see, I guess an' fear!"
The speaker acknowledges that the daisy is blessed in its simplicity, as it only experiences the present moment. In contrast, the speaker reflects on his own life and how he is constantly looking back at the past and worrying about the future. He says that he can only guess and fear what is to come, which adds to the melancholic tone of the poem.
The final stanza of the poem brings the focus back to the daisy and its beauty:
"I'm truly sorry Man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union, An' justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An' fellow-mortal!"
The speaker acknowledges that humans have disrupted the natural balance of the world, which has led to the daisy's fear of humans. He refers to the daisy as his "poor, earth-born companion" and "fellow-mortal," acknowledging that all living beings are connected and share a common fate.
To A Mountain Daisy is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of nature and the fleeting nature of life. The use of imagery and language creates a vivid picture of the rugged terrain and the delicate beauty of the daisy. The poem's themes of the natural world, the unpredictability of life, and the interconnectedness of all living beings continue to be relevant even today. Robert Burns' ability to capture the beauty and complexity of nature in his works is what makes him a timeless poet, and To A Mountain Daisy is a perfect example of his talent.
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