Happy Burns Night.........

[ToraToraTora]

Pity we can't have much of a bash but it does remind me of past incredible nights. In my club, we did host the whole "ode to the haggis" thing a few years back, whiskey, Neeps and tatties etc a few years ago. One of the guys was an actual piper from Scotland, good craic!

[maggiebee]

There is a star whose beaming ray
Is shed on every clime.
It shines by night, it shines by day,
And ne'er grows dim wi' time.
It rose upon the banks o' Ayr,
It shone on Doon's clear stream.
A hundred years are gane and mair,
Yet brighter grows its beam.

Chorus
Let kings and courtiers rise and fa'
This world has mony turns,
But brightly beams abune them aw'
The Star o' Rabbie Burns.

Though he was but a ploughman lad
And wore the hodden grey,
Auld Scotland's sweetest bard was bred
Aneath a roof o' strae.
To sweep the strings o' Scotia's lyre,
It needs nae classic lore;
It's mither wit an' native fire
That warms the bosom's core.

Chorus

On fame's emblazon'd page enshrin'd
His name is foremost now,
And many a costly wreath's been twin'd
To grace his honest brow.
And Scotland's heart expands wi' joy
Whene'er the day returns
That gave the world its peasant boy
Immortal Rabbie Burns.

Happy Burn's day to Scots the world wide. Raise a glass and toast the bard.

[Jackdaw33]

Is it just coincidence that Scotland's most celebrated bard was an alcoholic, syphilitic tax collector?

[maggiebee]

Jackdaw - from the National Library of Medicine

A careful review of Robert Burns's terminal illness, especially as documented in his correspondence, supports the widely held contention that death may have been due to subacute bacterial endocarditis secondary to chronic rheumatic heart disease. However, it is also possible that death have been caused by brucellosis or some non-infectious process such as malignant lymphoma. There is no evidence that Robert Burns suffered from either chronic alcoholism or venereal disease. The evidence that he may have died a doctor's martyr as a result of treatment with a mercury ointment is critically examined.

[douglas9401]

Just a couple of things:

Address to a haggis
And
Whisky

Hoots!

[dannyk13]

Happy Burns Night to all Scots abers.

[maggiebee]

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

Raise a glass - slainte

[Jackdaw33]

Burns isn't a patch on William McGonagall, my favourite poet of all time.

[Buenchico]

Jackdaw33 has largely stolen my thunder!

At least everyone accepts that McGonagall wrote appalling (although often entertaining) rubbish. Getting some Scots to accept that much of Robbie Burns' work is equally poor can often somewhat prove difficult!

[Buenchico]

^^^ "somewhat prove"?

I appear to be reversing my words! I must have been reading too much McGonagall ;-)

[Jackdaw33]

McGonagall walked all the way from Dundee to Balmoral to ask Queen Victoria to make him poet laureate for Scotland. When he arrived she had gone out for the day so he walked all the way back.

[Mamyalynne]

Happy Burns Night All!!

[Buenchico]

Let's have some decent poetry from a Scot ;-)

[Jackdaw33]

I defy anyone to read his poem on the Tay Railway Bridge Disaster without bursting out into hysterics.

[Arksided]

Have a good one all...



I do like Haggis btw.

[Buenchico]

McGonagall's own tribute to Burns:

Immortal Robert Burns of Ayr,
There's but few poets can with you compare;
Some of your poems and songs are very fine:
To "Mary in Heaven" is most sublime;
And then again in your "Cottar's Saturday Night,"
Your genius there does shine most bright,
As pure as the dewdrops of the night.

Your "Tam O'Shanter" is very fine,
Both funny, racy, and divine,
From John O'Groats to Dumfries
All critics consider it to be a masterpiece,
And, also, you have said the same,
Therefore they are not to blame.

And in my own opinion both you and they are right,
For your genius there does sparkle bright,
Which I most solemnly declare
To thee, Immortal Bard of Ayr!

Your "Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon"
Is sweet and melodious in its tune,
And the poetry is moral and sublime,
And in my opinion nothing can be more fine.

Your "Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled"
Is most beautiful to hear sung or read;
For your genius there does shine as bright,
Like unto the stars of night

Immortal Bard of Ayr! I must conclude my muse
To speak in praise of thee does not refuse,
For you were a mighty poet, few could with you compare,
And also an honour to Scotland, for your genius it is rare.

[Jackdaw33]

Nice one, Chico. From this the student will divine that McGonagall's interest was only rhyme. Rhythm, metre and scansion played no part in his 'poetry'.

[Buenchico]

"From this the student will divine
that McGonagall's interest was only rhyme"

That sounds like a McGonagall quote!

;-)

[Jackdaw33]

Thought you might like it!

[anneasquith]

Maggie. It appears jack doesn’t understand basic medicine .

[Old_Geezer]

Hmm... no off to Wetherspoons this year for a haggis, neaps & tatties meal then. Oh well...