To A Mouse by Robert Burns

To A Mouse, emphasizes Burns as Romantic poet. A love for Nature is the defining element of all romantic poets.
Given Burns' miserable past, it is obvious that Burns' relates to the mouse' predicament. The industrial revolution took over agrarian life, affected peasants everywhere (inc. burns). Both the mouse and Burns are affected by hierarchy --where there is not much chance of rising up the social ladder. Both feel the pinch of inequality. Like the mouse, Burns' plans for the future have crashed. Even with the success of some of his poems, he returned to poverty after a tiny burst of good fortune.
At the same time, Burns says the mouse is better off than he is, solely because the mouse only knows of the present. Burns on the other hand has to deal with his miserable past of poverty, lost love, and drinking problem. His future was just as bleak as the mouse' except Burns. He was physically weak, and still very poor. He probably would not survive many winters.
It was only after his death that he won so much acclaim.
So, it can be said that "To a Mouse" does not only reflect Burns' compassion and sympathy for a homeless mouse, but his ability to associate himself with a lowly creature of the earth.
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