Happy Birthday, Robert Burns

[Blackadder1916]

Today marks the birthday of Robert Burns who was born on 25 January 1759.  Across the globe this evening (or in the following days) the rich legacy of his words will be celebrated in the gathering of Scots, those posing as Scots for the evening and devotees of his poetry.  They will, to his immortal memory, consume quantities of whiskey and a meal that will invariably contain select sheep innards.  What can be more fun!

It is traditional at Burns suppers for attendees to spontaneously rise and recite passages of the Scottish bard's works.  One of my favourites is the second verse of  "My Bonie Mary"

The trumpets sound, the banners fly,
The glittering spears are ranked ready:
The shouts o' war are heard afar,
The battle closes deep and bloody;
It's not the roar o' sea or shore ,
Wad mak me langer wish to tarry!
Nor shouts o' war that's heard afar,
It's leaving thee, my bonie Mary!

 

[PMedMoe]

As proud as I am of my Scots ancestry, I don't think I could stomach whiskey and haggis.  Particularly not together.  Although, after enough whiskey, I might try anything.  >

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!

 

[Kirkhill]

Is there for honest poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that?
The coward slave, we pass him by --
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Our toils obscure, an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.

Yer guid health. iper:

 

[David1997]

Haappy Birthday