Contented Wi Little
written in 1794
Contented Wi Little - meaning Summary
Contentment in Face of Hardship
Burns presents a speaker who embraces modest living and meets hardship with good humour, song, fellowship, and drink. The poem frames life as a struggle in which mirth, freedom, and camaraderie are the speaker’s real wealth. Troubles are temporary and softened by convivial company; chance and fate are met with indifference rather than fear. The tone is resilient and hospitable, celebrating a spirited acceptance of whatever comes—pleasure or pain—rooted in a practical, Scots vernacular outlook on contentment.
Read Complete AnalysesContented wi' little, and cantie wi' mair, Whene'er I forgather wi' Sorrow and Care, I gie them a skelp, as they're creeping alang, Wi' a cog o' gude swats and an auld Scottish sang. I whyles claw the elbow o' troublesome thought; But Man is a soger, and Life is a faught; My mirth and gude humour are coin in my pouch, And my Freedom's my Lairdship nae monarch dare touch. A townmond o' trouble, should that be may fa', A night o' gude fellowship sowthers it a': When at the blythe end o' our journey at last, Wha the deil ever thinks o' the road he has past. Blind Chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way; Be't to me, be't frae me, e'en let the jade gae: Come Ease, or come Travail, come Pleasure or Pain, My warst word is: 'Welcome and welcome again!'
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