Today (as of posting) is Robbie Burns day. On my drive into work this morning I heard three Burns poems recited on the radio and I have absolutely NO idea what any of them were about.
I just saw a couple of his poems written out and I understood them a bit better, but they still looked like bad poetry to me.
My questions are why are we still reciting and honoring Burns's poetry? Does any current English speaker understand this guy?
Why bother with him, when there are a lot of other (seemingly better) poets who go entirely uncelebrated?
It's Robert, not Robbie - you didn't play with him as a child, did you?
Maybe so. But on the radio here (in Canada) they were calling it Robbie Burns day. So there!
You didn't understand it at first because Burns wrote in a Scottish dialect, not in the standard English of his day. The guy is Scotland's national poet, after all.
That's life: one thing is celebrated whilst another more worthy thing goes unmentioned: it happens all the time. Is there an Isaac Newton Day, an Albert Einstein Day, a Ghandi Day, a William Shakespear Day?
25 January:
Burns Night last night was as good as ever! A Burns supper: cock-a-leekie, haggis (after it has been addressed...not genuine else!)..steak pie and then the tipsy laird followed by a wee tassie or two. *The Selkirk Grace is a must too and all this in honour of our great RABBIE. To end it all, Auld Lang Syne sung in the CORRECT traditional style..."We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet, for auld lang syne!"
None of that "for the sake of ALS" or "In days of ALS!" nonsense! hee hee! We keep it in the original Rabbie style.
*The Selkirk Grace:
"Some hae meat and cannae eat
And some wad eat that want it:
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit!"
-------------------------------------------
"Nae man can tether time or tide;
The hour approaches Tam maun ride;
That hour o'nights black arch the key-stane,
That dreary hour he mounts the beast in;
And sic a night he taks the road in
As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in.
The wind blew as 'twad blawn its last;
The rattling show'rs rose on the blast;
The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd;
Loud, deep, and lang, the thunder bellow'd;
That night a child might understand
The Deil had business on his hand."
A fave on Burns night...Tam o'Shanter...telling of Tam's nightmare meeting on a stormy, thunder cracking ear splitting nightmare meeting with spirits from the other world.
"nae" = no
"maun" = must
"stane" = stone (as if you couldn't guess!)
"'twad blawn" = would have blown
"lang" = long
"Deil" = Devil
Addendum:
"sic" = such
sorry for missing that one.
So... you DO call him Rabbie... not Robert (a point for which I was chastised by our good friend Ed)?
Harvey:
I forgive your comments, you are entitled to your opinions, but nevertheless if the opportunity ever presented itself, you would be more than welcome at a traditional Burns Night Supper here in Alba, and if you really wish it, you could have Rabbie's poems explained to you and then you may, just may, revise your impressions. ;-)
He lived from 1759 to 1796 and quite a lad he was, to be sure....maybe why he died so young..... Anyway, he was a man of his time and of his native land so naturally he wrote in his Ayrshire dialect, as Joanne pointed out.
Hae a guid one!
PS: Alba = Scotland
Harvey:
Yes! In Scotland he is universally called Rabbie. Don't forget to roll your "Rs" btw!
I don't mean to be hostile to my Scots friends.
It's just that for years I have been hearing Auld lang syne without being able to figure out exactly what it's about. Perhaps you could translate for us.
I think the last poster put my name in the box instead of his/hers! Dinnae fret...I've done that before myself...such an easy thing to do.
Show your face and I will explain Auld Lang Syne!
Regards
The Authentic Damian ;-)
You're right Damian. I meant to direct the comment to you, but my name got lost in the shuffle somewhere.
Hi Damian... If you have time I would still appreciate your explanation. Thanks!
I was hoping you would answer this Damian.