Wednesday, January 25, 2012

robbie burns day


American's hardly know and little care that today is Robert Burns Day (or Night), the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Scottish poet and lyricist, the Bob Marley of his time, Robert Burns. We canna do the accent, and so long as 95% make up the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, and Scots distillers remain in operation we are mostly OK giving Rabbie a miss. But we should know a bit about the Bard, if only to be neighborly.

Rabbie took to writing verse, when he found it was a good way to chat up birds, at which he became quite successful. His first book of verse was sold to raise funds to hightail it to Jamaica with his girlfriend, Mary Campbell, in order to escape his mother's servant, the mother of his first daughter Elizabeth and Miss Jean Armour who was pregnant with his twins.

That the book sold well was a blessing and a curse in that it convinced him he had another talent, one that paid, so he cancelled the move to Jamaica, dumped Mary and married Jean. Prolifigate Robbie had at least 13 known children, 5 out of wedlock, 3 named Elizabeth.

Written for his first born Elizabeth was A Poet's Welcome to his Love Begotten Daughter


or as Burns called it "Welcome to a Bastart Wean"

So raise a glass tonight to Mr. Burns, he deserves to be remembered, for his poetry, his storytelling, his love of Scotland and his love of fine lasses. May they each live forever.

To Bobby

Laird Toad

6 comments:

Martha said...

Like a good Scott, we always celebrate Robert Burns Day -- with a good tot of whisky (that's Scotch to the Americans!)

Carole said...

My mother is of Scottish decent. We travel to ancestral homes on the Isle's of Mull and Skye every few years. Robbie Burn's Day is also my mothers birthday. So, tonight, haggis, salmon and a recently acquired bottle of 21 year old Chivas Royal Salute! Happy 83rd Birthday, Mom. Happy Robbie Burns Day to all!

Toad said...

Carole, wish your mother a happy birthday from all of us

Old Polo said...

I do love that hat Toad. I am envious. Hope you had a Happy Robbie Burns Day.

Anonymous said...

Of course I celebrated Burns night, I even got to slice the haggis! Anywhere that you can partake of scotch eggs, haggis, and rutabagas is okay by me!

Shelley said...

Yup, we had haggis and neeps for dinner, Bill drank his Balvenie and we pondered the mysteries of Address to a Haggis...