Epitaph for Robert Aiken, Esq by Robert Burns
The epitaph addresses a stranger who may not know the fame of a much-loved and honoured man. It declares that those who knew him need no reminder of his worth, for death has never stilled a warmer heart.
By Robert Burns · First published 1787 · Genre: Epitaph, Elegy, Memorial Poetry · 45 words
First lines
Know thou, O stranger to the fame / Of this much lov'd, much honoured name! / (For none that knew him need be told) / A warmer heart death ne'er made cold.
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Genres
- Epitaph — The poem is explicitly a memorial inscription honoring Robert Aiken after death, praising his character in a concise funerary form.
- Elegy — It mourns Aiken's death while commemorating his warmth, love, and honored reputation.
- Memorial Poetry — The verse preserves the subject's public memory by addressing strangers and recording his virtues for posterity.
- Lyric Poetry — Its brief, emotionally concentrated stanza uses elevated diction, rhyme, and direct personal feeling rather than narrative plot.
Tags
elegy · epitaph · memorial verse · mourning · death · remembrance · commemoration · posthumous praise · beloved man · honoured name · warm heart · human goodness
What this Textopian page supports
Epitaph for Robert Aiken, Esq is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1787 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: 1787 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epitaph, Elegy, Memorial Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Praise Poetry
- Length: 45 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
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