On Mrs. Riddell's Birthday by Robert Burns
Winter complains to Jove about his joyless days and dreary nights, asking for Maria's birthday to make his season surpass Spring, Summer and Autumn. Jove grants the request, and Winter rejoices.
By Robert Burns · Genre: Celebratory Poetry, Mythological Poetry · 180 words
First lines
4th November 1793.
Old Winter, with his frosty beard, / Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred: / "What have I done of all the year, / To bear this hated doom severe?
My cheerless suns no pleasure know; / Night's horrid car drags, dreary slow; / My dismal months no joys are crowning, / But spleeny English hanging, drowning.
"Now Jove, for once be mighty civil. / To counterbalance all this evil; / Give me, and I've no more to say, / Give me Maria's natal day! / That brilliant gift shall so enrich me, / Spring, Summer, Autumn, cannot match me. " / "Tis done! " says Jove; so ends my story, / And Winter once rejoiced in glory.
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On Mrs. Riddell's Birthday is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Celebratory Poetry, Mythological Poetry
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for On Mrs. Riddell's Birthday by Robert Burns
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Celebratory Poetry — Maria's birthday is celebrated as a gift that makes even Winter rejoice and claim superiority over the other seasons.
- Mythological Poetry — A personified Winter petitions Jove, who grants his request for Maria's natal day.
Tags
birthdays · winter · personification · Jove