The Wren's Nest (Fragment)

The Wren's Nest (Fragment) - meaning Summary

Domestic Rivalry Over Shelter

Burns presents a brief, playful scene in Scots dialect where a robin peers into a wren's nest and is rebuked. The speaker—presumably the wren—asserts the right to the nest and refuses to let the robin come in, stressing the value of small comforts and domestic security. The fragment highlights community boundaries, competition for shelter, and the wren’s practical insistence on keeping what it has. The voice is colloquial and intimate, making the exchange feel like everyday domestic speech rather than a moral allegory.