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Ode. Sacred to the Memory of Mrs Oswald of Auchincruive
Burns writes in this satire of the recent death of the wealthy Mrs Oswald of Auchencruive. Mrs Oswald owned the Auchencruive estate near Ayr after her husband's death but lived in London. When she died, her funeral procession stopped at the Inn in Sanquhar where Burns was staying. Unfortunately he was forced to give up the room and had to travel a further 12 miles on to New Cummnock in inclement weather. Burns channelled his anger through this poem that same January evening.