The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer
The poem is a comic yet forceful petition to Scotland’s representatives in Parliament, urging them to oppose a restriction on aqua-vitae. The speaker says that both he and Scotland suffer from a severe “drouth” since the measure was imposed, and he commands the representatives to tell the Premier the plain truth rather than sacrificing Scotland’s interests for posts or pensions. Scotland is imagined as an impoverished, grieving old mother: her drinking vessel stands empty while excisemen seize and crush her stills. At the same time, smugglers and vintners profit by taking what little money remains to her. The speaker appeals to Scottish pride and anger, asking how any Scot can tolerate seeing his country’s “pot” smashed and her last coin taken by “gallows knaves.” Though he calls himself a nameless and powerless man, the speaker urges the representatives to speak with patriotic force in Saint Stephen’s, naming Dempster, Kilkerran, the Laird o’ Graham, Dundas, Erskine, the Campbells, and Livingstone as men capable of defending Scotland. He also challenges “sodger Hugh,” suggesting that bravery in battle is not enough if he cannot speak when Scotland’s cause requires words. The poet warns that Scotland, already angered by the loss of her militia, may become violently enraged over whisky. He pictures her arming herself with dirk and pistol and attacking the first person she meets. The representatives must therefore soothe her and hasten to seek a remedy. They are told to withstand Charlie Fox’s mockery and encourage the “guid bluid o’ auld Boconnock’s” to propose a helpful scheme of commutation. The speaker promises his support and insists that Scotland, however rough-tongued and fierce, never abandons those whose side she takes. He blesses the chosen “Five-and-Forty” if they support their mother-country even when ministers grow hostile and remove their places. The prayer ends with modest good wishes for food and clothing, despite the “thievish kaes” around St. Jamie’s, as the poet signs himself Rab. In the postscript, the speaker contrasts Scotland with people in warmer lands, who may have rich wines and fragrant groves but are depicted as starving, dishonoured, and cowardly in war. A Scotchman, by contrast, needs only a Highland gill and a command naming the foe to think of killing two opponents at once. He meets death without fear and dies still giving faint huzzas. Philosophers may seek abstract causes for this courage, but the speaker declares that whisky is the reason. Addressing Scotland as his old, respected mother, he concludes that freedom and whisky belong together and calls on her to take her dram.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Political Satire, Satirical Poetry, Political Poetry · 2,245 words
First lines
To the Right Honourable and Honourable Scotch Representatives in the House of Commons.[1]
[1]: This was written before the Act anent the Scotch distilleries, of session 1786, for which Scotland and the author return their most grateful thanks. -R. B.
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Genres
- Political Satire — The poem ridicules parliamentary policy, excise restrictions, ministers, and representatives while urging action over Scotland's whisky tax.
- Satirical Poetry — Its argument is delivered in comic, exaggerated verse filled with mock outrage, caricature, irony, and scornful praise.
- Political Poetry — The work directly addresses Scottish members of Parliament and engages with contemporary legislation, taxation, representation, and public grievance.
- Scots-Language Poetry — Burns writes predominantly in Scots dialect, using vernacular vocabulary, rhythms, and idioms as central features of the poem's voice and style.
Tags
Scottish nationalism · whisky taxation · aqua vitae · Parliamentary petition · eighteenth-century Scotland · House of Commons · political satire · Scots dialect · patriotic rhetoric · excise officers · Scottish distilleries · anti-government protest
What this Textopian page supports
The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 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: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Satire, Satirical Poetry, Political Poetry, Scots-Language Poetry, Occasional Poetry
- Length: 2,245 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer by Robert Burns
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