Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux
Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux - form Summary
Elegy with Playful Eulogy
This short elegy names and commemorates "Robin" in a plain, conversational Scots voice. Rather than solemn lament, the poem mixes sympathy with affectionate teasing: it notes poverty and relief from care while celebrating Robin’s knack for quick rhyme and song. The tone is intimate and colloquial, treating death as the end of hardship but also as the closing of a playful, social life. As an elegy it comforts through familiar detail and character sketch more than abstract mourning, presenting a lived personality rather than an idealized loss.
Read Complete AnalysesNow Robin lies in his last lair, He'll gabble rhyme, nor sing nae mair; Cauld poverty, wi' hungry stare, Nae mair shall fear him; Nor anxious fear, nor cankert care, E'er mair come near him. To tell the truth, they seldom fash'd him, Except the moment that they crush'd him; For sune as chance or fate had hush'd 'em Tho' e'er sae short. Then wi' a rhyme or sang he lash'd 'em, And thought it sport. Tho'he was bred to kintra-wark, And counted was baith wight and stark, Yet that was never Robin's mark To mak a man; But tell him, he was learn'd and clark, Ye roos'd him then!
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