Robert Burns Poetry

[macwilkin]

Whilst certainly not one of his well-known works, two years ago I discovered Burns's Impromptu on Mrs. Riddell's Birthday, written to his long-time friend, Maria Riddell:

OLD Winter, with his frosty beard,
Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred:
“What have I done of all the year,
To bear this hated doom severe?
My cheerless suns no pleasure know;
Night’s horrid car drags, dreary slow;
My dismal months no joys are crowning,
But spleeny English hanging, drowning.

“Now Jove, for once be mighty civil.
To counterbalance all this evil;
Give me, and I’ve no more to say,
Give me Maria’s natal day!
That brilliant gift shall so enrich me,
Spring, Summer, Autumn, cannot match me.”
“‘Tis done!” says Jove; so ends my story,
And Winter once rejoiced in glory.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/robertburns/wor...ells_birthday/

T.

[Jimmy]

Just been watching Paulo Nutini's rendering of '' Is There for Honest Poverty''
totally brilliant, worth watching and listening, catch it on you tube.

It doesn't matter how often you read this poem, it helps to reduce arrogance and create humility

Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a'that)
That sense and Worth o'er a' the earth
Shall bear the gree an' a' that
For a' that, an' a' that
Its coming yet for a' that
That man to man the world o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that