To Robert Burns
1759-1796
Robert Burns was born on the 25 of January 1759 at Alloway in Ayrshire. The eldest son of William Burness and Margaret Broun, he was born 13 years after the Battle of Culloden and its tragic outcome. He grew up in the aftermath of the terrible repression inflicted by the British government on Jacobite sympathisers and the Highland people in general.
For Robert, the combination of poverty, hard work on the farm, story telling, the influence of the Kirk (Church), his studies, and a superb ability to observe life in general, was the making of The Man. He would develop a wicked sense of humour, a controversial frankness decrying hypocrisy, a tender & thoughtful creativity, an alleged thirst for drink, a deep Nationalist pride in his beloved Scotland, and an insatiable passion for Women.
Burns’ rise to fame began in July 1786 when at the age of 27, his first work was published by John Wilson at Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, entitled “Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect” known famously as “The Kilmarnock Edition”
The son of a poor farmer, he, quite simply, was a genius of the highest intellect! ”Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect” was considered to be one of the greatest poetical collections ever written. Its appeal was obvious not only to the educated, but also most importantly, to the common man just like himself.
Robert Burns died on the 21st of July 1796 aged 37 worn out and in debt.
We celebrate, on his birthday, his life and work every year the world-over, and the truest way to honour the poet is by reading his work and tuckin-into a Haggis!
Slainte
A Man’s a man for a’ that
Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head and a’ that;
The coward slave, we pass him by
We daur be puir for a’ that.
For a’ that, and a’ that
Our toils obscure, and a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hodding grey, and a’that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man’s a man for a’ that!
For a’that and a’that
Their tinsel show, and a’ that;
The honest man,though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that
Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts, and stares and a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word
He’s but a coof for a’ that.
For a’ that, and a’ that
His ribbon, star and a’ that
the man o’ independence mind
He looks and laughs at a’ that.
A king can make a belted knight
A marquis, duke and a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his micht
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ all that
For a’ that, and a’ that
Their dignities and a’ that
The pith o’ sense and pride o’ worth
Are higher ranks than a’ that.
Then let us pray that come it may
As come it will for a’ that
That sense and worth o’er a’ the earth
May bear the gree and a’ that
For a’ that, and a’ that
It’s coming yet, for a’ that
When man to man the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.