Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEBFB GHIHJKLK MNONPQRL FSTSUQVL SWXWYLBL ZZZZZLQL A2B2C2B2D2LKL ZE2F2G2H2QYL I2ZJ2ZZLK2L PZZZKLL2L ZZM2ZN2LJL| WHEN chill November's surly blast | A |
| Made fields and forests bare | B |
| One ev'ning as I wander'd forth | C |
| Along the banks of Ayr | D |
| I spied a man whose aged step | E |
| Seem'd weary worn with care | B |
| His face furrow'd o'er with years | F |
| And hoary was his hair | B |
| - | |
| - | |
| Young stranger whither wand'rest thou | G |
| Began the rev'rend sage | H |
| Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain | I |
| Or youthful pleasure's rage | H |
| Or haply prest with cares and woes | J |
| Too soon thou hast began | K |
| To wander forth with me to mourn | L |
| The miseries of man | K |
| - | |
| - | |
| The sun that overhangs yon moors | M |
| Out spreading far and wide | N |
| Where hundreds labour to support | O |
| A haughty lordling's pride | N |
| I've seen yon weary winter sun | P |
| Twice forty times return | Q |
| And ev'ry time has added proofs | R |
| That man was made to mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| O man while in thy early years | F |
| How prodigal of time | S |
| Mis spending all thy precious hours | T |
| Thy glorious youthful prime | S |
| Alternate follies take the sway | U |
| Licentious passions burn | Q |
| Which tenfold force gives Nature's law | V |
| That man was made to mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| Look not alone on youthful prime | S |
| Or manhood's active might | W |
| Man then is useful to his kind | X |
| Supported in his right | W |
| But see him on the edge of life | Y |
| With cares and sorrows worn | L |
| Then Age and Want oh ill match'd pair | B |
| Shew man was made to mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| A few seem favourites of fate | Z |
| In pleasure's lap carest | Z |
| Yet think not all the rich and great | Z |
| Are likewise truly blest | Z |
| But oh what crowds in ev'ry land | Z |
| All wretched and forlorn | L |
| Thro' weary life this lesson learn | Q |
| That man was made to mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| Many and sharp the num'rous ills | A2 |
| Inwoven with our frame | B2 |
| More pointed still we make ourselves | C2 |
| Regret remorse and shame | B2 |
| And man whose heav'n erected face | D2 |
| The smiles of love adorn | L |
| Man's inhumanity to man | K |
| Makes countless thousands mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| See yonder poor o'erlabour'd wight | Z |
| So abject mean and vile | E2 |
| Who begs a brother of the earth | F2 |
| To give him leave to toil | G2 |
| And see his lordly fellow worm | H2 |
| The poor petition spurn | Q |
| Unmindful tho' a weeping wife | Y |
| And helpless offspring mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| If I'm design'd yon lordling's slave | I2 |
| By Nature's law design'd | Z |
| Why was an independent wish | J2 |
| E'er planted in my mind | Z |
| If not why am I subject to | Z |
| His cruelty or scorn | L |
| Or why has man the will and pow'r | K2 |
| To make his fellow mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| Yet let not this too much my son | P |
| Disturb thy youthful breast | Z |
| This partial view of human kind | Z |
| Is surely not the last | Z |
| The poor oppressed honest man | K |
| Had never sure been born | L |
| Had there not been some recompense | L2 |
| To comfort those that mourn | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| O Death the poor man's dearest friend | Z |
| The kindest and the best | Z |
| Welcome the hour my aged limbs | M2 |
| Are laid with thee at rest | Z |
| The great the wealthy fear thy blow | N2 |
| From pomp and pleasure torn | L |
| But oh a blest relief for those | J |
| That weary laden mourn | L |
Robert Burns
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge is a poem by Robert Burns. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge poem by Robert Burns
Clive Georgeson: I am a 92 yo Englishman but this is the best poem ever written. The best advice is of course "The Torbolton Lasses"
Clive Georgeson: Probably the best poem ever written in ?English
