To A Mouse

To a Mouse by Robert Burns

The poem is about the gap between the world of mice and men which is bridged with friendly compassion, allowing the animal to be personified with the human world. It starts off with the writer Robert Burns doing his best to assure the terrified little creature the mouse that he has no intention of causing her any more harm. He apologizes to the mouse for the behavior of mankind, which has caused social disunion and tells the mouse that he realizes her need to steal the corn. He feels dismayed by what he has done- destroyed the mouse home at a time when it is impossible to rebuild. There is no grass and the December winds are cold and sharp, causing the winter to come fast. Although the mouse had thought that she was prepared for winter in her comfortable (cosie) little nest in the ground, she is faced with trying to survive in a most unfriendly climate. Towards the final verse of the poem it seems probable that the poet is trying to compare his own hard times with that of the mouse. Burns feel that through all the mouse’s trouble, the mouse is still lucky than him because it only needs to worry about the present, whereas with him he has to remember the past with all its dreary memories and look toward the future scared for what's coming.