... lifestyle. The whole point behind the poem is a concern with poverty and the possibility of happiness for the poor, which is a favorite topic for Burns. The poem begins with an epigraph from the 31st chapter of Proverbs, verses 6,7. He transposes the Bible into an idiom that is partly derived from folklore and partly based on a Scottish literature, with a subtle attack on ... . Each Stanza follows a rigid structure and it is to be marveled that Burns can make this so conversational rather than forced. If you take a closer look at the title, the epigraph was a translation of the King Jame...

• Word Count: 587
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School