Epitaph on a Noisy Polemic
Below thir stanes lie Jamie's banes; O Death, it's my opinion, Thou ne'er took such a bleth'ran bitch, Into thy dark dominion!
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About this work
This is an epitaph by Robert Burns. It was written in 1784 and is read here by Jonathan Watson.
More about this epitaph
Ralph McLeanThis epitaph was for James Humphrey (1755-1844), a stone-mason from Mauchline who was employed at both Lochlie and Mossgiel.
He was interviewed by Allan Cunningham in 1834, and recalled Burns with affection, indeed he was flattered even to have been on the receiving end of his poetic dig.
Humphrey had a degree of education and would sometimes engage Burns in debate, hence the subject of the epitaph.
It was also included as one of the epitaphs in the Kilmarnock edition.
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