Robert Burns 'Poem More Than Just A Mouse'

To A Mouse: More than Just a Mouse

“To A Mouse” composed by Robert Burns in 1789 is a short poem revolving around the life of a mouse and just how easily it can be ruined in an instant. Though the mouse works excessively and tirelessly to build her winter’s nest, the farmer unknowingly plows over it, “That wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble/ Has cost thee monie a weary nibble,” (Burns 31-32). The speaker then apologizes to the small creature comforting her in her fear, and begins to contemplate how similar a mouse’s life and a man’s life can be in regards to the trials of life. In this poem, Robert Burns utilizes the troubles in the mouse’s life to demonstrate that whether a mouse or a man, life will demonstrate how vile, devious, and conniving it can be.

The poet, Robert Burns compares and attempts to interpret a relationship between man and mouse in poem by indicating his compassion and benevolence to the mouse and explains that

The farmer envisions the mouse preparing for the winter, imagining the mouse with thoughts similar to a human’s; Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste An’ weary winter comin fast An’ cozie here, beneath the blast Thou thought to dwell. (Burns, 25-28) This envision of the farmer helps the connection amongst man and mouse clearer and comprehensible.

Connecting with the mouse and the speaker has been the focal point of this poem, emphasizing that even the best plans are eventually ruined for both the speaker and the mouse, The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain For promis’d joy. (Burns, 39-42) This direct quote from the poem accentuates that when specific important plans do fail, nothing will be left but misery, pain, and grief when happiness, pleasure, and bliss was