The Burning Babe

“The Burning Babe” is a 16-line lyric poem written in 1595 by Robert Southwell, an English Jesuit priest, and martyr who would later be ordained a saint. “The Burning Babe” is about a religious vision: An infant surrounded by flames—an avatar of Jesus Christ—tells the speaker about the torment of saving men’s souls. Though the imagery in the poem conveys the suffering of Christ for mankind, the conclusion of the poem leaves readers with a sense of hope and forgiveness. Southwell himself also suffered for his faith. Imprisoned for celebrating the Catholic Mass in Elizabethan England where this sect of Christianity was outlawed, Southwell was tortured and killed for his faith. “The Burning Babe” appeared in Southwell’s posthumous collection of poetry, St. Peter’s Complaint, which contained poems Southwell composed while imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Poet Biography

Robert Southwell was born in the county of Norfolk in England in approximately 1561. Southwell’s family was wealthy and well-established, having connections with other noble households such as the Cecil, Howard, Bacon, and Copley families. In May of 1576, Southwell went to Douai in Flanders to study at the English College, a Catholic school. While at school, Southwell decided that he wanted to pursue a religious vocation.