Show BURNS AS CHARACTERIZED BY HIS POEMS POEMS- i THERE are many features in the f character of Burns and some very important important important im im- ones too that can not be fully realized by m merely rely reading an account of his life or even by listening to lectures but in order to get a vivid idea of them one must study w with th a considerable degree of care the very words of the poet entering into the iY spirit in which they were written and making ones one's self familiar with the conditions conditions cons con con- s under which they were pro pro- The emotion of sympathy for in instance instance instance in- in stance is one strong characteristic of oft t Burns and is well brought out in the poem Y TO A MOUSE f So deep was his sympathy that he wrote a great number of poems with 1 that as the prevailing thought Nor indeed was it confined to the Scotch f 1 people or even to mankind but t the most insignificant animate object t awakened wakened in him a strong feeling causing causing causing caus caus- ing him to write a most tender tribute On a November day in 1785 Burns was ploughing in his field when he turned up a nest mouse-nest causing the little creatures to scatter in different directions for safety Touched by this little incident he sat down and composed composed composed com com- posed a few verses overflowing as as' as it were were with feeling and expressing his F si sincere re regret that man mati a and d the th low lower r f forms of animal life cannot dwell peaceably peaceably peaceably peace peace- ably together as inhabitants of th the same earth and products of the same good impartial God but are always ays' contending the weak in constant fear of the strong Yet even though the nest so carefully built has been scattered about by th the wind and all the labor expended i in preparing for winter has been apparently wasted the mouse is not alone for the i plans plaris of men are often thwarted leaving their originators in sorrow and ruin 1 Then with a tender bit of pathos Burns alludes to his past lif life and with witha J Ja a keen conscientiousness of a sad future ahead he calls the mouse blessed for itis it itis itis is innocent and has nothing to regret Is there anything more dreadful more conducive of pessimism and disgust of t life than the thought of some time having having having hav hav- ing to meet a just reward for those thos impure acts which one longs to blot out and cannot Yet though Burns had a conscientiousness of such a situation I he had too deep an interest in humanity j to become despondent and check the j A good he might do And so Burns either unconscious or otherwise wrote himself out as it were I through his pen Indeed it would b be difficult to select a poem of his composition i tion that does not set forth one or more more mental characteristics of the author r J M. M R. R P. P |