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Scottish (Lowland) Poetry -
Including "the Bard", Robert Burns
Sharing a birthday
with the Robert Burns I have some great memories of celebrating his
birthday at the Victoria Park town hall with the Caledonian Club. My grandmother would make a
Haggis and it would be piped with great ceremony into the hall on a big silver platter with everyone standing
around the perimeter of the hall ready to toast the haggis,
the lassies and the whiskey.
Men in their fine kilts and women in white dresses and tartan sashes
danced Scottish reels. The music stirring and the laughter and
clapping loud.
Robert Burns was born on
the 25th January in 1759 at Alloway in Ayrshire, to William Burness and Agnes Broun, they were poor tenant farmers and
Robert Burns was their first born of seven children. He spent his
youth working his father's farm, but his father employed a tutor,
John Murdoch, for Robert and his younger brother Gilbert. He was a
quick learner and became extremely well read. When he was 15
Robert was the principal worker on the farm and looking for an
outlet was prompted to start writing. It was at this impressionable
age that Burns penned his first verse, 'My Handsome Nell', for Nell
Kirkpatrick which was an ode to the subjects that were to dominate
Burn's life, specifically a good bottle of scotch and lovely young women.
| My
Handsome Nell [1774] |
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Once I lov'd a bonnie lass
Ay, and I love her still'
And whilst that virtue warms my
breast.
I'll love my handsome Nell.
As bonnie lasses I hae seen,
And mony full as braw,
But, for the modest graceful mein,
The like I never saw.
A bonnie lass, I will confess,
Is pleasant to the e'e,
But, without some better
qualities,
She's no a lass for me.
But Nelly's looks are blythe and
sweet,
And what is bet of a',
Her reputation is complete,
And fair without a flaw.
She Dresses aye sae clean and
neat,
Both decent and genteel,
And then there's something in
her gait
Gars only dress look weel.
A gaudy dress and gentle air
May slightly touch the heart,
But it's innocence and modesty
That polishes the dart.
Tis this in Nelly pleases me,
Tis this enchants my soul,
For absolutely in my breast
She reigns without control.
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It could easily be
said that 'Auld Lang Syne' is the best known and disseminated Song
across the modern world, embraced not only by Scots in the far
corners of the globe but by English, Swiss, Italians, Germans and
even the French. The poetry and the music of the song can bring a
tear or smile to the most hardened and encourage complete strangers
to hold hands or give one another an embrace.
| Auld Lang
Syne [1788] |
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Should auld
acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought
to min'?
Should
auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld
lang syne.
For auld
lang syne, my dear.
For auld
lang syne,
We'll tak
a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld
lang syne.
We twa hae
run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine:
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidled i' the burn,
From morning sun till dine:
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
And we'll tak a right guid-willie
waught,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pnit-stop,
and surely I 'll be mine;
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
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More than 400 of Burns songs are
still in existence after over two hundred years. 'Coming Through the
Rye' is another well known Song today. In 1788 Jenny Clow bore Burns
a son one of several illegitimate children.
So Burns loved
and lived to love, in spite of all the malevolence and misery it had
caused him, he composed many songs
for his lady loves. In the same year
Rev. William Auld and the Mauchline Kirk Session
recognise the authenticity of the marriage of Burns and Jean Armour.
|
Coming Through the Rye [1788] |
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Coming through the rye, poor body,
Coming through the rye,
She draiglet a' her petticoatie.
Coming through the rye.
Gin a body meet a body
Coming through the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?
Gin a body meet a body
Coming through the glen;
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need the world ken?
Jenny's a' wat, poor body;
Jenny's seldom dry;
She draiglet a' her petticottie,
Coming through the rye.
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Robert Burns died
in 1796 on the 21st July at Dumfries aged 37 of Rheumatic fever exacerbated by
the hard manual work he undertook in his youth. He spent the last
years of his life concentrating on writing some of his greatest
masterpieces such as Tam O' Shanter and My Love is Like a Red Red
Rose.
| My Love
is Like a Red Red Rose
[1794] |
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My love is like a red red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
My love is like the melodies
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
till a' the seas gang dry.
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear.
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only love,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my love,
tho' it were ten thousand mile.
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Over 10 000 people turned out on the
25th July to honour Robert Burns at his funeral. His popularity
continued to soar long after his death. To this day Scots at home
and abroad continue to celebrate the anniversary of his birth with a
"Supper". They address the Haggis, the ladies and of course the
whisky [uisge-beatha, 'water of life']. A Celebration which
would without a doubt make him proud to put his name to.
| A
Bards Epitaph |
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Is there a whim inspired tool
Owre, fast for thought, owre hot
for rule
Owre, blate to seek, owre proud
to snool,
Let him draw near,
And owre this grassy heap sing
dool,
And drab a tear.
Is there a bard of rustic song,
Who, noteless, steals the crowds
among,
That weekly this area throng,
O, Pass not by!
But with a trater feeling
strong,
Here, heave a sigh.
Is there a man, whose judgement
clear
Can others teach the course to
steer,
yet runs, himself, life's mad
career,
Wild as the wave,
Here pause and, thro' the
starting tear,
Survey this grave.
The poor inhabitant below
Was quick to learn the wise to
know,
And keenly felt the friendly
glow,
And softer flame,
But thoughtless follies laid him
low,
And stain'd his name!
Reader, attend! wether thy soul
Soars fancy's flights beyond the
pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly
hole,
In low pursuit.
Know, prudent, cautious, self
control
Is wisdom's root.
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One of the world greatest authority
on the life and works of Robert Burns is one of our own, Dr James Mackay, his
biography, 'Burns', won the 1994 Saltire Society Book of the Year
Award. He also wrote Robert Burns: The complete Poetical Works and
Braveheart: William Wallace. A very accomplished fellow indeed!
Slàinte Mhath! .
Robert Burns
"The Bard" Related Links:
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