Nature's Law-A Poem by Robert Burns
The poem rejects the glorying of war and celebrates the man who multiplies humankind. Great Nature commands the human race to possess the lower world, be fruitful, and increase, having poured strong desire into each bosom and set Mankind beside Beauty’s blossom. Its lowly bard sings in Coila’s plains with mirth and glee, endowed by Kind Nature with a large share of the flaming current and never seeking to restrain its sacred force. Obeying this powerful behest, he seeks a correspondent breast, while propitious Powers protect the young flow’rs from mildews of abortion; the bard is rewarded with a double portion. Auld cantie Coil may celebrate the day that gives another Burns, who may sing auld Coil with greater poetic fire than his sire. The poem asks the Powers of peace and peaceful song to bless auld Coila with multiplying joys and to let Burnses spring through endless generations to sing her fame.
By Robert Burns · First published 1808 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Celebratory Poetry · 476 words
First lines
Humbly inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
Great Nature spoke: observant man obey'd-Pope.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A verse work built from rhymed stanzas, expressive voice, celebration, and rhetorical address rather than narrative plot.
- Occasional Poetry — The poem commemorates the birth of Burns's child and is specifically inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, tying it to a personal occasion.
- Celebratory Poetry — It praises procreation, fertility, the newborn child, Coila, and the continuation of the Burns family line.
- Satirical Poetry — Burns humorously rejects martial heroism and conventional war poetry, elevating sexual fertility as a more worthwhile source of fame.
Tags
Scottish poetry · eighteenth-century poetry · Scots language · lyric poem · mock-heroic verse · anti-war · pacifism · procreation · fertility · sexual desire · nature's command · human reproduction
What this Textopian page supports
Nature's Law-A Poem 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: Lyric Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Celebratory Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Erotic Poetry
- Length: 476 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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