Epistle to John Rankine by Robert Burns
In “Epistle to John Rankine,” the speaker addresses Rankine as a rough, witty companion known for drinking, jokes, and irreverent attacks on outwardly holy people. He mockingly warns Rankine not to strip hypocritical “saunts” of the religious clothing that distinguishes them from ordinary sinners, especially the “lads in black,” whose sanctity his wit exposes. The speaker encloses poems that he owes Rankine and asks him to send a promised song in return. He says he has little spirit for writing because he has lately been caught after shooting a partridge while roaming with his gun at twilight. Though the bird was only slightly wounded, someone reported the incident to the poacher-court. Suspected of the act, he refuses to lie and pays the required fee. Angered by the punishment, he swears that the game will pay for it in the following year. Once the nesting season has passed and the young birds are grown, he intends to hunt extensively, even if he must work tending buckskin cattle in Virginia to afford the expense. He insists that the bird’s injury was minor and resents being made to pay a substantial sum and endure complaints over it. His rage leaves him unable to rhyme or write further, though he promises that further poetic offerings may come when the time is suitable.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Epistolary Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Scots Dialect Poetry · 799 words
First lines
Enclosing Some Poems
O Rough, rude, ready-witted Rankine, / The wale o' cocks for fun an' drinkin! / There's mony godly folks are thinkin, / Your dreams and tricks / Will send you, Korah-like, a-sinkin / Straught to auld Nick's.
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Genres
- Epistolary Poetry — The work is a verse letter directly addressed to John Rankine, using the conventions of correspondence, including requests, personal news, a closing, and the formula 'Your most obedient.'
- Satirical Poetry — Burns humorously attacks religious hypocrisy and mocks social and legal authority, especially through his treatment of sanctimonious 'saunts' and the poaching court.
- Scots Dialect Poetry — The poem is written predominantly in Scots vernacular, with characteristic vocabulary, spelling, idiom, and colloquial speech rhythms.
- Comic Poetry — Its tone is playful and witty, turning the speaker's minor poaching offence, fine, and extravagant vow of revenge against game into comic material.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · verse epistle · eighteenth-century Scotland · rural Scotland · satire of religious hypocrisy · anti-clerical wit · Calvinist piety · drinking culture · male friendship · comic invective · irreverence · saints and sinners
What this Textopian page supports
Epistle to John Rankine is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epistolary Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Scots Dialect Poetry, Comic Poetry, Personal Lyric
- Length: 799 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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