The Sons of Old Killie
written in 1786
The Sons of Old Killie - fact Summary
Dedicated to Killie's Sons
This poem is a short dedicatory address by Robert Burns to the "sons of old Killie," the young men of his parish. Written in 1786 while he was a farmer and later an excise officer, Burns offers a cordial benediction rather than a long argument: a half-playful, half-reverent prayer invoking natural and moral order, secrecy, and brotherly love for the household. Its tone blends local intimacy with broad, providential appeal, reflecting Burns’s role in rural community life and his habit of composing occasional verses for civic or parish gatherings.
Read Complete AnalysesYe sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie, To follow the noble vocation; Your thrifty old mother has scarce such another To sit in that honoured station. I've little to say, but only to pray, As praying's the ton of your fashion; A prayer from the muse you well may excuse, Tis seldom her favourite passion. Ye powers who preside o'er the wind and the tide, Who marked each element's border; Who formed this frame with beneficent aim, Whose sovereign statute is order; Within this dear mansion may wayward contention Or withered envy ne-er enter; May secrecy round be the mystical bound, And brotherly love be the centre.
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