The Song of Death by Robert Burns
Set on a battlefield at evening, the song imagines wounded and dying soldiers of a victorious army bidding farewell to the world, love, and friendship. They defy death, contrast a peasant's obscurity with a young hero's fame, and declare their willingness to die defending king and country.
By Robert Burns · Genre: War Poetry, Patriotic Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 232 words
First lines
Tune-"Oran an aoig."
Scene-A Field of Battle. Time of the day-evening. The wounded and dying of the victorious army are supposed to join in the following song.
Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies, / Now gay with the broad setting sun; / Farewell, loves and friendships, ye dear tender ties, / Our race of existence is run! / Thou grim King of Terrors; thou Life's gloomy foe! / Go, frighten the coward and slave; / Go, teach them to tremble, fell tyrant! but know / No terrors hast thou to the brave!
Genres
- War Poetry — The song gives a collective voice to wounded and dying soldiers on a battlefield after victory.
- Patriotic Poetry — The speakers celebrate dying with swords in hand to save their king and country.
- Lyric Poetry — Two rhymed stanzas express the soldiers' farewell to life and directly address death in defiance.
Tags
battlefield · dying soldiers · courage · mortality · patriotism · military glory
What this Textopian page supports
The Song of Death 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: War Poetry, Patriotic Poetry, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 232 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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