A Poet's Welcome to his Love-Begotten Daughter

Summary of the poem:

• The poem "A Poet's Welcome to his Love-Begotten Daughter" by Robert Burns is a warm welcome to the poet's newborn daughter.
• The poem expresses the father's joy at the arrival of his child and his deep love for her.
• The father promises to protect and guide his daughter throughout her life and shares his hopes and dreams for her.

Inspiration for the poem:

• The poem was written in 1785 to celebrate the birth of Burns' daughter, the product of his relationship with Betty Paton, a local servant girl. He had faced moral criticism due to this relationship.
• Burns made financial provisions for his daughter's upbringing, and this poem is a heartfelt expression of his genuine joy at becoming a father.

Form of the poem:

• The poem is written in the Standard Habbie stanza, consisting of six lines.
• It features rhyming couplets, with longer lines 1-3 and 5 rhyming and short lines 4 and 6 rhyming only with each other.
• This form allows the poet to build momentum in the first three lines and create variation in the final three, offering opportunities for emphasis and irony.

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Poetry

Summary of each stanza:

Stanza 1:

The first stanza warmly welcomes the poet's newly born daughter. The poet expresses his joy at her arrival and describes her as a "bonnie" and "sweet wee dochter" (beautiful and sweet little daughter). He compares her to a "rosebud" and mentions her "wilfu' impatience," symbolising her beauty and the eagerness of youth. The stanza establishes the theme of parental love and introduces a tone of defiance, as the poet resolves not to be daunted by societal judgments or blush in his daughter's presence.

Stanza 2:

In the second stanza, the poet addresses the issue of societal criticism. He acknowledges that the child's birth was not expected or socially sanctioned, as he mentions the charge of "fornication" that led to humiliation in church. The poet boldly emphasises his disregard for gossip and the opinions of others. He dismisses those who gossip about him and his daughter, referring to them as "auld wife," implying pettiness. The stanza continues the theme of defiance and challenges conventional morality.

Stanzas 3 and 4:

These stanzas shift towards celebration. The poet expresses his hopes and dreams for his daughter, wishing her happiness, love, and a good husband. He also highlights his unashamed affection for his daughter and the love between him and her mother. The tone becomes more serious as the poet discusses his responsibilities and commitment to providing for and educating his daughter. References to detractors and the desire to protect his child continue to be present in these stanzas.

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Poetry

Stanzas 5 and 6:

These stanzas focus on the father's responsibilities and role. The poet pledges to care for his daughter and ensure her well-being, even if he has little material wealth to offer. He addresses those who would prefer a child born in wedlock, criticising their voyeuristic tendencies. The poet's tenderness towards his child and the child's mother is emphasised, revealing his determination to be unrepentant, at least in his verses if not before society. The final stanza reinforces the idea of the father's commitment to his daughter, ending on a note of defiance and pride.

Stanzas 7 and 8:

In these stanzas, the poet shifts towards a more prayerful and reflective tone. The poet invokes God's blessings and expresses his deep affection for his daughter and her mother. He praises the mother's qualities, emphasising her worth and grace despite societal judgement. The poem ends with a declaration of love and a commitment to be a loving father to his daughter, combining tenderness and defiance.

Themes:

The importance of human values:

• "Tho' ye come here a wee unsought for, Sweet fruit o' mony a merry dint."
• The poet celebrates the value of human life and the joy it brings.
• "Tho' they may ca' thee 'wean,' a tadlin' tyke, Ae welcome makes the coming sweet."
• The arrival of the child is welcomed and valued, regardless of society's judgments.

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Poetry

Celebration of spontaneous and natural love:

• "Welcome! my bonie, sweet wee dochter!"
• The poem celebrates the natural and spontaneous love between a parent and child.
• "The mair they talk, I'm kent the better; So never fash your thumb."
• The poet embraces his love for his daughter despite societal criticism.

Imagery:

Comparison of the daughter to a flower:

• "A rosebud set with little wilfu' impatience."
• The poet compares his daughter to a budding rose, symbolising her beauty and innocence.
• "Thy life, my treasure! I'll bless and greet as the bird does the morning sun."
• The daughter's life is likened to the joy of a bird greeting the dawn, emphasising her purity and vitality.

Nature as a symbol of innocence and beauty:

• "But, lord be thankit, a' wale o' worth, My dearest pledge, a mother's gift."
• Nature is seen as a gift from the mother, symbolising the natural and beautiful qualities of the child.
• "To watch o'er thee, weal nor woe, My sweet, wee lady-bird."
• The child is compared to a lady-bird, reflecting her innocence and the protective instinct of the father.

Style Techniques:

Alliteration:

• "Thou's welcome wean."
• The alliteration in the first line adds emphasis to the welcoming tone of the poem.
• "Thy mither's person, grace and merit."
• Alliteration in this line highlights the mother's qualities.

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Poetry

Personification:

• "The mair they talk, I'm kent the better."
• Personification of gossip and society's judgments as "they" adds a human quality to societal attitudes.
• "And thy poor worthless daddy's spirit."
• Personification of the father's spirit reflects his love and character.

Language Techniques:

Metaphor:

• "Thy life, my treasure!"
• The poet uses a metaphor to express the preciousness of his daughter's life.
• "Bonie, sweet wee dochter."
• These terms of endearment are metaphoric expressions of the father's love.

Personal Reflection:

1. How does the poet's defiance in the face of societal judgement impact your perception of his love for his daughter and his commitment to her?

2. What emotions does the poem evoke in you regarding the themes of love, societal expectations, and the beauty of natural love?

3. How does the poem challenge or reinforce your views on the importance of human values and the celebration of spontaneous, natural love in the context of societal norms and judgments?