Epitaph on my Ever Honoured Father
The epitaph invites those moved by pity to approach the grave with reverence for a man remembered as a loving husband, tender father, and generous friend. He is praised for compassion toward human suffering, courage before human pride, and friendship with mankind, while opposing vice alone. Even his faults are presented as tending toward virtue.
By Robert Burns · First published 1787 · Genre: Epitaph, Elegy, Memorial Poetry · 111 words
First lines
O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains, / Draw near with pious rev'rence, and attend! / Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, / The tender father, and the gen'rous friend; / The pitying heart that felt for human woe, / The dauntless heart that fear'd no human pride; / The friend of man-to vice alone a foe; / For "ev'n his failings lean'd to virtue's side. "[1]
[1]: Goldsmith. -R. B.
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Genres
- Epitaph — The poem is explicitly composed as a grave inscription memorializing Burns's father and praising his character after death.
- Elegy — It mourns a deceased loved one in a solemn, reverent tone while celebrating his virtues and enduring moral example.
- Memorial Poetry — The work preserves the father's memory through a concentrated tribute to his roles as husband, father, friend, and compassionate man.
- Lyric Poetry — Its brief, emotionally expressive verse prioritizes feeling, praise, and moral reflection rather than narrative plot.
Tags
elegy · epitaph · grief · mourning · fatherhood · paternal love · marital devotion · friendship · compassion · human suffering · virtue · moral character
What this Textopian page supports
Epitaph on my Ever Honoured Father 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: 111 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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