Extemporaneous Effusion on being Appointed to an
The speaker laments that his appointment will require him to search old wives’ barrels, a degrading task that seems likely to soil his poetic “laurels” with clarty barm. Yet he asks what others can say against it, since the sight of wives and children in need would move even hearts of stone.
By Robert Burns · First published 1808 · Genre: Occasional Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Satirical Poetry · 66 words
First lines
On being appointed to an Excise division.
Searching auld wives' barrels, / Ochon the day! / That clarty barm should stain my laurels: / But-what'll ye say? / These movin' things ca'd wives an' weans, / Wad move the very hearts o' stanes!
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Genres
- Occasional Poetry — The poem was composed in direct response to Burns's appointment to an Excise division, making the immediate personal occasion its central subject.
- Lyric Poetry — It is a brief, emotionally expressive verse that voices the speaker's dismay, comic self-awareness, and affection for his family.
- Satirical Poetry — The poem humorously demeans the duties of an exciseman, especially the prospect of searching household barrels and being stained by barm.
- Comic Verse — Its exaggerated lament, colloquial phrasing, and contrast between poetic laurels and unpleasant official work create a deliberately comic effect.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · eighteenth-century Scotland · excise officer · tax collection · barrel inspection · working life · poverty · wives and children · family need · economic hardship · social conscience · moral justification
What this Textopian page supports
Extemporaneous Effusion on being Appointed to an Excise Division is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1808 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: 1808 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Occasional Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Comic Verse, Autobiographical Poetry
- Length: 66 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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