To a mouse

My thoughts on Robert Burns wonderful and profound poem.

Robert Burns lived in a different age and a different world.

We cannot know what was coursing through his mind when he penned his wonderful poem, 'To a mouse' but in today's troubled times his words appear prescient.

'I'm truly sorry man's dominion,

Has broken natures social union,'

'and forward, tho' I canna see, I guess an' fear'

 Robert Burns

Below are my own humble thoughts on this existential threat that faces us all.

Ne'er a truer word was spoken

But oft I wish for olden days

When a'one lived in tune wi' nature

And went around in simple claise

Whit's happened noo, I'm truly sorry

For man's dominion's near an end

Not long frae now we'll a' be gone

Tae leave an empty world ahent

Alan Graham

Note:    a'one-everyone, claise-clothes, noo-now, frae-from, tae-to, ahent-behind

Reviews

[emmajoy]

'.. But oft I wish for olden days ~ When a'one lived in tune wi' nature .. '

What an inventive response to the Man himself A stern chap as often was but still had a vague sense of humour, surely. I mean to say, anyone able to chat to and write about a wee mouse must have had a sense of academic wit. But yes, Burns wrote so much more than that tribute and brave and inspired you to look into and be inspired by his others works of art.. that#s what they were. You've brought his quoted area e up to date but by no means diluted the original .

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Emma for your lovely review. The wee mouse has inspired me and I'm in guid company wi yon American loon Jock Steinbeck and his 'Of Mice and Men'.
All the best.
Alan

[emmajoy]

Thank you - . was a pleasure to read. Best wishes from a Dorset Sassenach!

[Delmar Cooper]

My eye was stopped by the mouse. Mouse and Louse are two of my favorites. The man knew what he was about. I struggle with the dialect, but it isn't exactly Navaho and all comes together, even your dialect writing, Sir. I enjoyed this, thanks.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Delmar, for your review. I'm reading a 4 book novel on the life of Burns just now by James Barke which seems very illuminating on this great poets life.
Regards, alan

[PaintedBirdy]

beautiful. our words can both divide and unite. a philosophy of dominion or union. i love european humanitarianism. as an american, we sadly just destroy and have no real values. i wish there were american philosophers. we lack people like you, which we need. our coffee shops are starfucks. i wish we had more people like you!

[Stevo The POE-t]

I agree with you... Were living in a world where technology rules us. Most humans are on the cell phones all the time. Meanwhile they're missing everything that is happening around them. I feel most people see their kids grow up through pictures on Facebook instead of watching them with their own eyes. I remember growing up without a cell phone, I was always outside playing with friends. Kids don't do that today. They play video games online if they wanna play with their friends. I have a six year old that loves to play outside when its warm enough for him. He also loves to play Disc Golf with me...

Good job on this as it makes you think about everything going on around you...

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Stevo for your very thoughtful observations on this. In some ways we have lost our connection with the real world.
All the best.
Alan

[Betty Hermelee]

Lovely comment on our state of the world! It’s not simple and serene anymore but confused and terribly altered; how sadly true this is , nice write!

[alanwgraham]

Thank Betty for looking at this. To a mouse is my favourite poem. It still speaks to us today.
Cheers.
Alan

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes it does!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Alan,
you have spoken of what so many of us are fearing. Our violent world is eating itself up...consumed with violence and self....and to me, self-loathing.
As it was with the Beat poets...i think our poets at WC are expressing how it is, and how tragic...
but who's listening besides other poets?
i am not sure...all i know is this is a wonderful response to Burns...and to how the seats in the stadium have gone from sold out, to sold out and emptying.
good stuff here.
j.

[barleygirl]

In my opinion, consumerism is woefully rampant. People shop just becuz they're bored & too lazy to have any hobbies or interests. It's so sad to see how much JUNK almost every home generates, which is evident on a spin thru the garage sale madness every weekend everywhere. Sorry, your poem strikes a nerve, as you probably could've predicted! Love what you're saying & thanks for sharing a great, apt poem I did not know about before (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Margie. Its great to know, although not any surprise, that you switched on to our plight. A big part of the solution is education but its an uphill fight against the ad men tell us to spend, spend, spend. Joining up the dots and understanding that the wild fires are related to our life styles is going to be difficult. As a matter of interest I wrote this poem a few years ago as a link in my novel FULL CIRCLE which is about past, present and future.
We are more lucky than most here in the UK regarding the effects of climate change but at present parts of England has had bad floods.
Take care and thanks again,
Alan

[lakinbob]

Be fair, it is the turn of the cockroaches, they've waited long enough.

Grand use of of rhyming and ne'er a truer word was spake.

[alanwgraham]

Ha ha I, you might be right. Thanks for
reading this. Every time I listen to our leaders i get a bad feeling about how things are going to work out - or maybe Trump is right.
All the best and watch for the roaches.
Cheers.
Alan

[Beccy]

Over two centuries past and indeed a different world, a different age, but very much the same sentiment which is being echoed so strongly today.

Doesn't give much hope that our 'superior' species might finally learn the lessons of history before it's too late.

A fine wee poem alan, that writes large our self inflicted folly.

Beccy.

[John the Baptist]

Hope we get to sing Auld Lang Syne at least once before the Apocalypse.

[alanwgraham]

I hope we'll manage a few, John. Thank for reading and your review.
All the best
Alan