Gilbert Burns in his edition of his brother's poetry cast doubt on the authenticity of this poem but the renowned Burns scholar James Kinsley later proved that it was indeed written by Burns.

Throughout, the tone is tender and caring, and the poem celebrates the life of the child, while condemning the life-denying disapproval of members of the kirk who, Burns said, would 'ca' me ...

Hogmanai eve: 1795 R. Burns. Postscript. Ye've heard this while how I've been licket, And by fell Death 'maist nearly nicket; Grim loon! he gat me by the fecket, And sair he sheuk; But by good ...

This poem appears to have been the first attempt that Burns made at sonnet writing. The sonnet, popularised in English by Shakespeare, is a fourteen-line poem. The subject matter is the verse form ...

Justifiably Burns's most celebrated poem (it was indeed his own favourite), Scottish schoolchildren for generations have been familiarised with Tam's wild ride home. The inspiration for the poem ...

and Chamber's included it in his Life and Works of Robert Burns (1897). Chambers believed that much of Burns more radical political poetry had been concealed to protect Burns name, but had faith ...

The poem 'Robert Burns's Answer' (?1786) was written in response to Thomas Walker of Pool (d.c.1812). In 1786, Burns was publicly rebuked in Mauchline Kirk for impregnating Jean Armour ...

The poem, 'Address to the Toothache' was first published in the Belfast Newsletter on 11 September 1797. An example of Burns's skill when writing in Scots, Burns exploits the often harsh ...

There are two stories that are linked to the writing of this poem. The first, more romantic version, is that Burns came up with poem on the hoof during a dinner at Mauchline cabinet-maker John ...

25 January is Robert Burns’ birthday. But the poems I wrote have been published! I didnae think anybody would read them!But people – important people, mind – are saying… that they’re great!