Stanzas on the same occasion by Robert Burns, 1786

The poem is subtitled "Misgivings of Despondency on the approach of the gloomy Monarch of the Grave".

Burns opens his poem by wondering why he should be averse to leaving this earth. Things have not been so good anyway. One paramount reason is his fear of meeting his punishment for his sins before a "sin-avenging God". This is the only occasion where Burns directly mentions God. On other occasions he uses an indirect reference.

In these last two verses Burns accepts that he would ask God's forgiveness, promising to lead a better life in the future if he is spared, but knows that he has been sorry before and still repeated the offence. He addresses the all powerful God to use his vast power to assist him to keep to the straight and narrow.

This poem was written while Burns was in partnership in a flax dressing business in Irvine and had been ill for some weeks which had added to his depression. This is reflected in the tone of his poems and letters of the time in early 1782.