'To A Louse' by Robert Burns
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ON SEEING ONE ON A LADY'S BONNET AT CHURCH
Ha! whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie!
Your impudence protects you sairly:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely
Owre gauze and lace;
Tho' faith, I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunned by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her,
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner,
On some poor body.
Swith, in some beggar's haffet squattle;
There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle
Wi' ither kindred, jumpin cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whare horn or bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.
Now haud ye there, ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rels, snug an' tight;
Na faith ye yet! ye'll no be right
Till ye've got on it,
The vera tapmost, towering height
O' Miss's bonnet.
My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out,
As plump an' grey as onie grozet:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie ye sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum!
I wad na been surprised to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy;
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss's fine Lunardi!—fie!
How daur ye do't?
O Jenny, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
Ye little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin!
Thae winks and finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin!
O, wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
And ev'n Devotion!
Editor 1 Interpretation
To A Louse by Robert Burns: A Critique and Interpretation
Oh, what a sight to see a louse crawling on someone's bonnet! But what if we were the ones being observed? Would we be as repulsive to the louse as it is to us? In his poem "To A Louse," Robert Burns explores this idea, along with themes of humility, vanity, and the human condition.
Overview of the Poem
"To A Louse" was written in 1786 by Robert Burns, who is considered one of the greatest Scottish poets of all time. The poem is written in Scots dialect, which adds to its charm and authenticity. The poem is addressed to a louse that Burns sees crawling on a lady's bonnet during a church service. The louse becomes a metaphor for the human condition, as Burns reflects on the vanity and pride of humans, and how we are all equal in the eyes of God.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker observing the louse crawling on the lady's bonnet. The speaker imagines what the louse must be thinking as it crawls along, observing the lady's fancy clothes and hairstyle. The language used in this stanza is simple and straightforward, but it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly;
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.
The second stanza is where the poem really starts to take shape. The speaker begins reflecting on the louse's perspective, imagining what it must be like to live such a small and insignificant life. The language here is more poetic and introspective, as Burns begins to explore deeper themes.
Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her--
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.
The third stanza is where Burns really hits his stride. He begins to apply the louse's perspective to humanity as a whole, looking at how we are all subject to the same fate. The language used here is beautiful and poetic, as Burns explores the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
With throbbing temples I admire
Your tiny form,
If Nature's hand you had inquired
She'd never wrought
So gross an ill-proportion'd dwarf,
Not worth her care
But now she's done her utmost power
And just has made
A little still-born, half-form'd thing
Before the artisan'd poor.
The fourth stanza is where Burns really drives home his point. He reflects on how we all have our own insecurities and vanities, but in the grand scheme of things, they are all insignificant. The language used here is simple and straightforward, but the message is powerful.
Ye Powers wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a Haggis!
Themes in the Poem
"To A Louse" is a poem that explores the human condition through the perspective of a small insect. The themes that emerge from the poem are humility, vanity, and the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
Humility is a major theme in the poem. Burns uses the louse as a metaphor for how small and insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things. By doing so, he forces us to confront our own insecurities and vanities.
Vanity is another major theme in the poem. Burns reflects on how we are all subject to the same insecurities and vanities, but in the grand scheme of things, they are all insignificant. He uses the example of the lady's fine clothes and hairstyle to illustrate this point.
The idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God is perhaps the most powerful theme in the poem. Burns reflects on how we are all subject to the same fate, and how we are all equal in the grand scheme of things.
Conclusion
"To A Louse" is a beautiful and introspective poem that explores the human condition through the eyes of a small insect. Burns uses the louse as a metaphor for our own insecurities and vanities, and forces us to confront the reality of our own mortality. By doing so, he reminds us of the importance of humility and the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God. This poem is a true masterpiece of Scottish literature, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To A Louse: A Masterpiece by Robert Burns
Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of everyday life in his poetry. One of his most famous works, "To A Louse," is a perfect example of this. In this poem, Burns observes a louse crawling on a lady's bonnet during a church service and reflects on the nature of humanity and the importance of humility.
The poem begins with Burns addressing the louse directly, saying "Ha! where are ye gaun, ye crawlin' ferlie?" The use of the Scottish dialect adds to the charm of the poem and gives it a unique voice. Burns then goes on to describe the louse's journey across the lady's bonnet, noting its "siller hairs" and "feathery feet." The attention to detail in this description is remarkable and shows Burns' keen observation skills.
As the poem progresses, Burns shifts his focus from the louse to the lady wearing the bonnet. He notes that the louse is not the only one with imperfections, saying "O wad some Power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!" This line is often quoted and has become a popular saying, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and humility.
Burns then goes on to describe the lady's appearance, noting her "ribbon, flower, and feather" and her "bonie lassie." However, he quickly reminds the reader that outward appearances can be deceiving, saying "But Och! I backward cast my e'e, on prospects drear!" This line is a powerful reminder that even those who seem to have it all together can be struggling on the inside.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Burns reflects on the fact that the louse is not aware of the lady's social status or appearance, saying "To see ourselves as others see us, it would from many a blunder free us." This line is a reminder that we are all equal in the eyes of nature and that our differences are often superficial.
Overall, "To A Louse" is a masterpiece of observation and reflection. Burns' ability to take a simple moment and turn it into a profound reflection on humanity is truly remarkable. The poem is a reminder that we should all strive for humility and self-reflection, and that our differences are often less important than we think.
In conclusion, "To A Louse" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Its message of humility and self-reflection is just as relevant today as it was when Burns wrote it over 200 years ago. If you haven't read this poem before, I highly recommend it. It is a true masterpiece of Scottish literature and a testament to the power of observation and reflection.
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