Extempore Reply to an Invitation by Robert Burns
The speaker says he can scarcely spare a minute but promises to join the addressee soon, ending with a joking reference to the Devil.
By Robert Burns · Genre: Poetry, Humor · 44 words
First lines
The King's most humble servant, I / Can scarcely spare a minute; / But I'll be wi' you by an' by; / Or else the Deil's be in it.
Genres
- Poetry — Four rhyming lines convey the speaker's brief reply to an invitation.
- Humor — The speaker follows his promise to come soon with an exaggerated reference to the Devil.
Tags
invitations · time pressure · promises · humorous verse
What this Textopian page supports
Extempore Reply to an Invitation is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated Date unknown.
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: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor
- Length: 44 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Extempore Reply to an Invitation by Robert Burns
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph