Favorite Burns Poems

[Scotus]

With the birthday anniversary of Robert Burns coming up (and many Burns Suppers this weekend), I thought it might be nice to post the title(s) of our favorite Burns poem(s). I haven't seen this as a recent topic, but with so many here who wear the kilt for ethnic reasons, I thought this might be a good topic. What got me thinking about this was the thread about a phrase in this same section from one of my favorites, "Tae a Louse."

My very favorite Burns poem has to be, "It Was A' For Our Rightfu King." I think this conjures up romantic notions of Jacobites and so forth. Anyway, if anyone else wants to share, please do.

[macwilkin]

Great idea, Scotus!

Hmm...

A Man's a Man and Address to a Haggis ranks high on my list, but my favourite is probably Tam O'Shanter. I also like Halloween.

Another guid yin is Address to a Toothache!

Regards,

Todd

[Arlen]

I have to say, my favourite always was and always will be 'To a mouse.'
It's just full of such wonderful images and the whole thing fits together as such a good story. I know so many people who only see the sad parts, but the whole is so much more than that.

That said, I also like The Twa dogs very much.

[McMurdo]

Wonderful idea for a thread, as for me right now my favourites would have to be
Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn
Followed closely by
My Heart is in the Highlands
And
A Red, Red Rose
I do like others and have recently been reacquainting myself with the works of Burns I find that each time I read his works I get something else out of each of them.

[McClef]

Well at the moment as I am living breathing and dreaming the Address to the Haggis in preparation for a week Saturday that must be my current favourite!

But there is so much good stuff besides. Besides picking unusual subjects such as mice and lice he was a keen and satirical observer of his day and one of my real faves is his "Address the the Unco Guid" and their rigid self-righteousness.

O ye wha are sae guid yoursel',
Sae pious and sae holy,
Ye've nought to do but mark and tell
Your neibours' fauts and folly!

[Scotus]

Arlen, "Tae a Moose" is a good one.

[Phil]

I think my favourite has to be "Willie Wastle" for its humour and the pictures it creates -

Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed,
The spot they ca'd it Linkumdoddie.
Willie was a wabster guid
Could stown a clue wi onie body.
He had a wife was dour and din,
O, Tinkler Maidgie was her mither!
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

She has an e'e (she has but ane),
The cat has twa the very colour,
Five rusty teeth, forbye a stump,
A clapper-toungue wad deave a miller;
A whiskin beard about her mou,
Her nose and chin they threaten ither:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

She's bow-hough'd, she's hem-shin'd,
Ae limpin leg a hand-breed shorter;
She's twisted right, she's twisted left,
To balance fair in ilka quarter;
She has a hump upon her breast,
The twin o that upon her shouther:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her.

Auld baudrans by the ingle sits,
An wi her loof her face a-washin;
But Willie's wife is nae sae trig,
She dights her frunzie wi a hushion;
Her walie nieves like midden-creels,
Her face wad fyle the Logan Water:
Sic a wife as Willie had,
I wad na gie a button for her

But for a romantic poem then "Ae fond kiss" has to be my favourite

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, and then for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.--

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leave him:
Me, nae chearful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.--

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her, was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.--

Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly!
Never met--or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.--

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!--

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel, Alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

And if you like something a bit down to earth then there is "Twa wives"

There was twa wives, and twa witty wives,
As e'er play'd houghmagandie,
And they coost oot, upon a time,
Out o'er a drink o brandy;
Up Maggie rose, and forth she goes,
An she leaves auld Mary flytin,
And she farted by the byre-en'
For she was gaun a shiten.

She farted by the byre-en',
She farted by the stable;
And thick and nimble were her steps
As fast as she was able:
Till at yon dyke-back the hurly brak,
But raxin for some dockins,
The beans and pease cam down her thighs,
And she cackit a' her stockins.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

I have several.
I would like to say many of his poems/songs come alive for me
when I hear them in sung. He is reason many of the ole
songs survived as he was the one to put them to paper.

My favorites would be:
Scotch Drink
Address to Edinburgh
To a Haggis
A Man's a Man

[macwilkin]

Twa more:

The Dei'ls awa wi' the exciseman
Willie brew'd a peck o' malt

T.

[Scotus]

A touching one is Highland Mary. Very sad.

I have a collection called Poems of Robert Burns, as selected by Lloyd Frankenberg. It's a nice little collection that might be found at used book sellers Online.

I agree that My Heart's in the Highlands is a great one. I really like it.

"Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love."