Changes

Having now regularly married Jean, he brought her to Ellisland, and once more tried farming for three years. Continued ill-fortune, however, led him, in 1791, to abandon Ellisland, and he moved to Dumfries, where he had obtained a position as a tax collector. But he was now thoroughly despondent; his work had become mere drudgery; his tendency to take his relaxation in debauchery increased the weakness of a constitution early undermined; and he died at Dumfries on July the 21st, 1796

Having now regularly married Jean, he brought her to Ellisland, and once more tried farming for three years. Continued ill-fortune, however, led him, in 1791, to abandon Ellisland, and he moved to Dumfries, where he had obtained a position as a tax collector. But he was now thoroughly despondent; his work had become mere drudgery; his tendency to take his relaxation in debauchery increased the weakness of a constitution early undermined; and he died at Dumfries on July the 21st, 1796

Although an able poet in standard English his best work was in his native Scots.<ref>Robert Burns, Selected Poems, C. McGuirk, p9</ref> Poems like "The Twa Dogs" and "The Cotter's Saturday Night," vividly describe the harshness of 18th century Scots rural life but he could also write the most cutting social critique such as in "Holy Willie's Prayer," and "Address to the Unco Guid," whilst "To a Mouse" showed he was capable of great tenderness and fellow feeling. He is considered a exponent of the early Romantic movement and was a great influence on William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley.<ref>Robert Burns, Selected Poems, C. McGuirk, p14</ref>

Although an able poet in standard English his best work was in his native Scots.<ref>Robert Burns, Selected Poems, C. McGuirk, p9</ref> Poems like "The Twa Dogs" and "The Cotter's Saturday Night," vividly describe the harshness of 18th century Scots rural life but he could also write the most cutting social critique such as in "Holy Willie's Prayer," and "Address to the Unco Guid," whilst "To a Mouse" showed he was capable of great tenderness and fellow feeling. He is considered a pioneer of the Romantic movement and was a great influence on William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley.<ref>Robert Burns, Selected Poems, C. McGuirk, p14</ref>