Being Scottish and from Burns' country I really felt I should honour the great man.
But I'll not be having haggis, neeps and tatties - no it's curry for tea tonight!
However, I love the range of Scottish Heroes and Villains mugs and tea towels from Gillian Kyle and found here.
So I'll raise this Robert Burns mug to Scotland's greatest.
And I'll leave you with two verses from my favourite of his poems - one that as a child I had to stand up in front of my primary school and say aloud. It was terrifying trying to learn all the words and then not get them wrong! But it must have stuck with me for I still remember it to this day.
Tae A Moose
Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee
Wi' murd'ring pattle!
I'm truly sorry man's dominion,
Has broken nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
What makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!
Happy Burns Night Everybody. x
And to you lovely ... enjoy your curry ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteI love this poem, my Mum used to try to teach it to us when we were little! I found it really scary at the time because I didn't understand half the words :)
ReplyDeleteMe too Jen!! I was terrified by standing up reciting this! My wee boy is already doing it in P1! Maybe if they start younger its easier. You enjoy your curry, no haggis here either, have a fab weekend Jo xx
ReplyDeleteHappy burns night!! Enjoy ur yummy curry! Xx
ReplyDeleteNicki xx
Happy Burns night to you too! Gosh, is it really that time of the year already? Enjoy your curry. x
ReplyDeleteHaha, we're having curry tonight too, although I did do hubby some haggis last night. I always loved reciting "The Puddock". Hmm, I might do a blog post about that tomorrow. :) xx
ReplyDeleteI have a haggis defrosting on the counter (a McSweens one stocked by my local Bristol butcher) and I am just on my way out to buy the wherewithal to whip up a couple of glasses of cranachan. Here's to the immortal memory!
ReplyDeleteOh cranachan - yummy! x
DeletePS I love those Local Heroes mugs.
ReplyDeleteHappy Burns Night Jen x
ReplyDeleteI am in no way truly Scottish, though I have lots of Scotland up and down my ancestral line. But I DO love this poem. John Steinbeck (who wrote mostly about the part of California I am from) took the title for his novel "Of Mice and Men" from this poem, I believe. So I guess this poem is our constant?
ReplyDeleteKate from Clear the Way
I'm a fellow Scot (although raised in sunny South Africa & now living in England!) so happy Burns birthday to you too. That was my wee Gran's favourite poem, thanks for invoking a lovely memory of her reciting it to me :-)
ReplyDeleteNo haggis, neeps or tatties here either - just leftover mac & cheese! Hmmm... perhaps MacAroni is actually of Scots origin too!
Happy weekend,
Xx
Just been having a lovely potter around your blog, and whilst it's not technically related to this post I had to tell you - I am rather partial to your yellow hat!
ReplyDeleteHappy burns night to you too, Jen! I love that first poem and the idea of a little you reciting it! Xx
ReplyDelete