Favorite Burns Poems

[Panache]

My Heart's in the Highlands

John Barleycorn (especially when recited by a lovely red head)

I'm not sure if "Address to a Haggis" is a favorite or not. I have spent so much time and effort memorizing the thing. I do know that when I am a doddering old man unable to remember anything else...I'll still be able to recite it

Good Luck on your's Trefor!

Cheers

Jamie

[Colin]

I have always enjoyed Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn (better known as Scots Wa Hae).

'Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome tae your gory bed,
Or tae Victorie!
'Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and Slaverie!
'Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
'Wha, for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa',
Let him on wi' me!
'By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
'Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow! -
Let us do or dee!'

Address to a Haggis and Auld Lang Syne (hey, it's sung at New Years at at the end of Burns suppers, how can you not like it) are also favourites. I really do need to find a good book on Burns and learn more. I enjoy his writings.

[highlander_Daz]

I was once in the unenviable position of discussing "cock up your beaver" with a group of teenagers,

Its one of my favouites anyway despite the easy laughs, its a fantasic work

[Nick the DSM]

a red,red rose
hearts in the highlands- sumtin like that
are my favorites

[Coemgen]

In no particular order:

Tam O'Shanter
"A Man's a Man For A' That"
"My Luv Is Like A Red, Red Rose"
"My Heart's In The Highlands"
"Scots Wha Hae"
"The Bonniest Lass"*
"Nine Inch Will Please A Lady"*

*do you know how hard it is to find a recording of these? Cost me $20!

[BEEDEE]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and select one of his lesser known works - The Tyrant Wife

Curs'd be the man, the poorest wretch in life,
The crouching vassal to the tyrant wife!
Who has no will but by her high permission;
Who has not sixpence but in her possession;
Who must to her his dear friend's secret tell;
Who dreads a curtain lecture worse than hell!
Were such a wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit, or I'd break her heart:
I'd charm her with the magic of a switch,
I'd kiss her maids, and kick the perverse bitch.

It's so vivid you can just picture the situation.

Brian

[macwilkin]

No Churchman am I

No Churchman am I for to rail and to write,
No Statesman nor Soldier to plot or to fight,
No sly Man of business contriving a snare,
For a big-belly'd bottle's the whole of my care.


My Girl She’s Airy

My girl she's airy, she's buxom and gay;
Her breath is as sweet as the blossoms in May;
A touch of her lips it ravishes quite.
She's always good natur'd, good humor'd and free;
She dances, she glances, she smiles upon me;
I never am happy when out of her sight.
Her slender neck her handsome waist
Her hair well curl'd her stays well lac'd
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
And O for the joys of a long winter night.


On Marriage

That hackney'd judge of human life,
The Preacher and the King,
Observes: 'The man that gets a wife
He gets a noble thing.'

But how capricious are mankind,
Now loathing, now desirous!
We married men, how oft we find
The best of things will tire us!

[Jimmy]

Tam o' Shanter is my favourite, brilliant epic narrative poem with warning that you have to watch out when you go out on the razzle-dazzle.
love the first verse which is more relevant today with any man who gets involved with his friends and heads off to the pub, not caring how he will get home or what like his other half will be when he returns worst off for drink.

' Whare sits our sulky, sullen dame,
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.'

Awesome, brilliant stuff and its found in almost everyone of his poems.
Sad thing is the Scootish Qualification Authority,the body responsible for education in Scotland have decided in the last few years to exclude Burns from their standard and higher grade certificates in their schools - unbelievable

[Fox]

I will not claim it favorite, but it does seem fitting.
http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poe...ant_Weaver.htm

[Scotus]

I will not claim it favorite, but it does seem fitting.
http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poe...ant_Weaver.htm

As a descendant of weavers from near Melrose, I think this is a very good choice.