To a Mouse by: Robert Burns

1. To a Mouseby:Robert Burns Brandon Kussmaul English 1B March 21, 2014

2. Poem • Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, • O, what a panic's in thy breastie! • Thou need na start awasae hasty, • Wi' bickering brattle! • I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, • Wi' murd'ringpattle! • 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! • I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve; • What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! • A daimenicker in a thrave • 'S a sma' request; • I'll get a blessinwi' the lave, • An' never miss't! • Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin! • It's silly wa's the win's are strewin! • An' naething, now, to big a new ane, • O' foggage green! • An' bleak December's winds ensuin, • Baithsnell an' keen!

3. Poem • Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste, • An' weary winter comin fast, • An' cozie here, beneath the blast, • Thou thought to dwell- • Till crash! the cruel coulter past • Out thro' thy cell. • That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble, • Has cost thee mony a weary nibble! • Now thou'sturn'd out, for a' thy trouble, • But house or hald, • To thole the winter's sleety dribble, • An' cranreuchcauld! • 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! • Still thou art blest, compar'dwi' 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!

4. Background • Poet Robert Burns is considered one of the most famous characters of Scotland’s Cultural history. He is best known as a pioneer of the Romantic movement for his lyrical poetry and his re-writing of Scottish folks songs, many of which are still well-known across the world today. He published his first collection of poetry to raise enough money to make it to Jamaica where he hoped to find work.

5. Poem Background • The poem was written in 1785 and is a friendly address. In this poem, Burns identifies the mouse with the human world, although the poem is essentially about himself. It is true that Burns' family suffered from poverty and oppression and there is suggestion to as if this is the context behind the poem.

6. Interpretation • The poem seems to teach a lesson that in life no matter how perfectly laid out plans are, they get ruined from time to time. Then he relates the poem to himself and the mouse where he says the mouse has it easy. In which he does have a point because the human kind has to look at the past with regret and the future with fear where the mouse lives in the moment. I see this because the man pities the mouse at first, he realizes that the mouse has it easier than humans so he didn’t feel as bad.

7. Literary Devices • “an’ bleak December’s winds ensuing” with this line he is referencing with imagery that the cold winds began to blow. • “weary winter” this is just describing that it has been a cold winter while using alliteration. • “thou saw the fields lay bare an waste” this is another example of imagery where he is describing the empty fields. • He uses ABAB rhyming sequence.

8. Relating Song • Oh, Mother Earth, • With your fields of green • Once more laid down • by the hungry hand • How long can you • give and not receive • And feed this world • ruled by greed • And feed this world • ruled by greed. • Oh, ball of fire • In the summer sky • Your healing light, • your parade of days • Are they betrayed • by the men of power • Who hold this world • in their changing hands • They hold the world • in their changing hands. • Oh, freedom land • Can you let this go • Down to the streets • where the numbers grow • Respect Mother Earth • and her giving ways • Or trade away • our children’s days • Or trade away • our children’s days. • Respect Mother Earth • and her giving ways • Or trade away • our children’s days.

9. Relating Song • The song relates to my poem because the poem shows concern for the earth as well as nature itself. Although the song does not touch ground on mice in general or animals for that matter, it still shows a loving attitude towards earth.

10. Conclusion • This poem does a great job in showing a care for the earth as well as nature in itself. It teaches a lesson that explains that in life, no matter how your plans get laid out, there will be times they get ruined. It also shows that mice really do have it easier than mankind because humans have to look at the past with regret and the future with fear where the mouse lives in the moment.