---
title: "Epitaph on a Noted Coxcomb"
subtitle: "Capt. Wm. Roddirk, of Corbiston"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1794"
location: "Dumfries"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/epitaph-on-a-noted-coxcomb/"
---

# Epitaph on a Noted Coxcomb

### Capt. Wm. Roddirk, of Corbiston

## Poem
Light lay the earth on Billy’s breast,  
His chicken heart so tender;  
But build a castle on his head,  
His scull will prop it under.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/epitaph-on-a-noted-coxcomb/