Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Robert Burns Day


Every January 25th we celebrate the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's most famous poet.  He is known as Robert, Robbie, Rabbie, Scotland's Favourite Son...but never Bobby, or Rob.

One of these years the Suburban Prince will make it to the Burns supper put on by the local Scottish society but usually he ends up at the Scottish club in the city.  Fortunately, it's not as bitterly cold as it usually is so his knees wont take the brunt of the evening.


Winter - 1781

The wintry west extends his blast,
And hail and rain does blaw;
Or the stormy north sends driving forth
The blinding sleet and snaw:
While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down,
And roars frae bank to brae;
And bird and beast in covert rest,
And pass the heartless day.

"The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast,"
The joyless winter day
Let others fear, to me more dear
Than all the pride of May:
The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul,
My griefs it seems to join;
The leafless trees my fancy please,
Their fate resembles mine!

Thou Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme
These woes of mine fulfil,
Here firm I rest; they must be best,
Because they are Thy will!
Then all I want-O do Thou grant
This one request of mine!-
Since to enjoy Thou dost deny,
Assist me to resign.


Have a braw day!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gasp! I thought it was tomorrow night, I've got a haggis in, so I guess I'm making it tonight, phew thanks!

HEA Bookshelf said...

great poem!! thanks for sharing!! Have a great day!! xx

About Last Weekend said...

I do love my haggis but wouldn't have a clue where to get it here in California

Teena in Toronto said...

Happy (belated) Robbie Burns Day!

Wendy said...

Hope you had a great Robert Burns Day! I celebrated with shortbread! So much for my resolution to be more healthy!

Mildred said...

Nice! My dad used to read his poetry to me.

Shelley said...

Love this poem (probably one of his more comprehensible ones). He wasn't a very smart man in some ways for all that he could write stunning poetry (he died in poverty). And he wasn't a very good husband (well, the famous sometimes aren't). However, in what he was good at he was about the best.

Alexandra P said...

Beautiful, sums up the snow here exactly, all foggy and overcast, no crispy sunshine. And love the recipe below too, never sure what to do with quinoa!