Derry poet’s work draws parallels to renowned poet Robert Burns after critical analysis

A Derry poet’s work was critically analysed with AI recently, and his work drew parallels to that of renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns. 

Wilson Burgess sent his poem ‘A Day’s Pullin’ off to London to be critiqued, and through the use of ChatGPT, the similarities to Burns were striking. 

Burgess has been a strong advocate and promoter of the Ulster Scots language and culture, particularly through his poetry. 

Born in Aghadowey, Burgess now resides in the Waterside of Derry and has been much celebrated due to his work winning the prestigious Frances Browne International Poetry Competition with his poem Owl Keady an elegy to the mountain on Coleraine to Limavady Road, and his book Dae ye see has been selected as the recommended reading for the new Ulster Scots Poetry course at Queen's University.

The poem ‘A Day’s Pullin’ vividly captures a day in the life of a flax puller, highlighting the physical and emotional toll of the labour. 

Throughout the subtle social commentary on the disconnect between labourers and the beneficiaries of their work, Burgess adds depth through the farmer’s dismissive attitude. 

ChatGPT noted the similarity in the focus of both poets on rural life and their use of regional dialects to bring their subjects to life. 

Burns is renowned for works such as ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘The Battle of Sherramuir', and ‘To a Mouse’, the one most resembling Burgess’ poem. 

The similarities between the two poets' work should not be incredibly surprising due to the history behind Ulster Scots, the language Burgess champions and has helped preserve through his work. 

The language was brought to this part of the world during the Plantation of Ulster, as many Scottish settled in what is now Northern Ireland. 

This occurred in the late 17th century, only 50 years before the birth of Scottish poet Burns, whose work was written in the late 18th century, with Ulster Scots being incredibly reminiscent of the Scottish language from this period.