The Soldier's Return by Robert Burns
A puir sodger comes hame tae Scotia eftir the wars and finds Nancy still leal tae him. Whan she kens him as Willie, she welcomes him tae the gowd and plenish'd mailen her grandsire left her. The hinmaist verse bids folk honour puir sodgers for their service in danger.
By Robert Burns · Genre: Ballad, Love Poetry, War Poetry · 681 words
First lines
Air-"The Mill, mill, O."
When wild war's deadly blast was blawn, / And gentle peace returning, / Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless, / And mony a widow mourning; / I left the lines and tented field, / Where lang I'd been a lodger, / My humble knapsack a' my wealth, / A poor and honest sodger.
Genres
- Ballad — An air is named for this sang, whose rhymin stanzas tell o' a sodger's hamecoming and Nancy's recognition o' him.
- Love Poetry — Nancy has kept her love for Willie through his absence, and their reunion brings vows that they winna be parted again.
- War Poetry — The opening names war's fatherless bairns and mournin widows; the ending asks folk tae respect the puir sodger's service and honour.
Tags
sodgers · hamecoming · leal love · war · heirship
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The Soldier's Return 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
- Genres: Ballad, Love Poetry, War Poetry
- Length: 681 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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