Need Burns night assistance

**David Thornton** · 20th January 07, 06:32 PM

Mods, if this goes somewhere else, feel free to move it

Bill has asked me to address the dinner relative to the poem Tam O Shanter. I do not think the audiance is ready for me to tackle the poem as it is too long and I can bearly read a childs poem in American English.

So, I need to find a copy of the story in plain english to better familiarize myself with the piece, and I need ideas as to what I want to say or do. Just tell the story? Is there an appropriate toast?

All help apprecieted.

I will bring a camera this year as I have a new badger fullface sporran to trot out!

David

**Tattoo Bradley** · 20th January 07, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by David Thornton

I will bring a camera this year as I have a new badger fullface sporran to trot out!

David

Looking forward to seeing that.

**David Thornton** · 21st January 07, 09:59 AM

Come on guys, the piece is 13 minutes, I am not (read:cannot) do the whole thing and do it justice. I will post an audio file for any of you who want to hear it done well. http://www.scotsindependent.org/feat...ns/shanter1.rm
Thanks
David

**BEEDEE** · 21st January 07, 10:13 AM

There is an excellent summary of the poem in Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_o'_Shanter_(Burns_poem)

This would make a great short speech for The Immortal Memory and incorporates the key elements of the poem without going thorugh it all.

Good luck,

Brian

**David Thornton** · 21st January 07, 11:25 AM

Thanks BEEDEE, Saw that and I have copied it for reference.

David

**McClef** · 21st January 07, 12:31 PM

Doing Tam is a major task!

And not one which I have heard attempted at Burns suppers I have attended!

**Monkey@Arms** · 21st January 07, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

Doing Tam is a major task!

And not one which I have heard attempted at Burns suppers I have attended!

Indeed, I recall that there is/was a commercial slide show that could be purchased to illustrate the poem while it was being recited, so the audience could better follow what was going on. "Weel done, Cutty-sark!"

Best regards,

Jake

**McClef** · 21st January 07, 05:46 PM

I'm sure that there a lot of people who have attended Burns suppers who think that Cutty Sark is just a clipper ship on the Thames at Greenwich!

**thescot** · 21st January 07, 05:57 PM

For a modern English translation, go here:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/...ations/446.htm

You can use the synopsis above along with a few chosen modern quotes to liven things up.

Like McClef said, most won't know the poem anyway adn wouldn't understand much of the Scots tongue. So, do 'em a favor and introduce them to it.

You might even work in a couple of lines in Scots just to shoe them the beauty of the whole thing and explain why you use modern English.

Should be fun and intructional for all. It'a a great poem.

**McMurdo** · 21st January 07, 06:23 PM

Tam is quite an undertaking, I dont think I would be too happy withthat request, sorry I dont know of any english translations or run downs of it though, good luck with it,
your a braver man than I am Gunga Din.