n escape from these labors also saw him pen his first poem at this age “My Handsome Nell, which was an ode to the other subjects that dominated his life, namely scotch and women” (The Bard 1).
Burns’ father died in 1784 (The Bard 1). At this point in time Burns and his brothers became partners on the farm, but Burns was prepared to seek life somewhere warm like the West Indies. So, too, he needed somewhere safer than his native Alloway, Ayrshire, where several notorious encounters with women resulted in various illegitimate children. About the time Burns was ready to leave his native life behind, the first collection of his poems was published. Entitled Poems – Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect – Kilmarnock Edition, the collection revolved around an unrequited love affair in which the young farmer-poet had been involved. Because of the success of this collection of poems and his genuine pride in being a father (illegitimate though his children may be), Burns continued to reside in Scotland. Once in Edinburgh the Ploughman Poet became the darling of the glitterati set of artists and writers who were fascinated by Burns. His virtual overnight transformation from a farmer to a national celebrity enabled him to win permission from the father of a girl who already bore him two children, Jean Armour. Despite his celebrity “The trappings of fame did not bring fortune and he took up a job as an exciseman to supplement his meagre income” (The Bard 2).
Of course, Burns continued to write both poems and songs. Burns would retain his appointed position for Dumfries as excise officer until his death. He eventually took over the lease of Ellisland Farm approximately six miles from Dumfries (Robert 6). He finally ended up residing in Dumfries on a street eventually renamed Burns Street where the house is now a museum. Until the time of his death Burns continued to write poems and songs and was working on a six-volume ...