To a Louse

In 1786, Robert Burns authored the poem "To a Louse, On Seeing One on a Lady's Bonnet at Church". The theme of "To a Louse" could be interpreted to be: If one could see his or herself as others do, then one would realize his or her faults, and be freed of many blunders.

Related Topics:
1786 - Robert Burns - Poem - Theme

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The following is the full text of the poem (as cited in "Robert Burns" listed in the "References" section).

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Ha! whare ye gaun, ye crowlan ferlie!

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Your impudence protects you sairly:

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I canna say but ye strunt rarely,

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Owre gauze and lace;

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Tho' faith, I fear ye dine but sparely,

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On sic a place.

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Ye ugly, creepan, blastit wonner,

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Detested, shunn'd, by saunt an' sinner,

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How daur ye set your fit upon her,

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Sae fine a Lady!

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Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner,

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On some poor body.

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Swith, in some beggar's haffet squattle;

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There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle,

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Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,

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In shoals and nations;

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Whare horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle,

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Your thick plantations.

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Now haud you there, ye're out o' sight,

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Below the fatt'rels, snug and tight,

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Na faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,

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Till ye've got on it,

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The vera tapmost, towrin height

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O' Miss's bonnet.

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My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out,

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As plump an' gray as onie grozet:

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O for some rank, mercurial rozet,

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Or fell, red smeddum,

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I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't,

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Wad dress your droddum!

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I wad na been surpriz'd to spy

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You on an auld wife's flainen toy,

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Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,

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On 's wylecoat;

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But Miss's fine Lunardi, fye!

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How daur ve do't?

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O Jenny dinna toss your head,

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An' set your beauties a' abread!

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Ye little ken what cursed speed

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The blastie's makin!

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Thae' winks and finger-ends, I dread,

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Are notice takin!

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O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us

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To see oursels as others see us!

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It wad frae monie a blunder free us

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An' foolish notion:

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What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,

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And ev'n Devotion!

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