"Auld Lang Syne" Heresy

[thescot]

Thank you, Jim.
My life is now compleat and I can die a fulfilled and happy woman.

My goal in life is to see a lady fulfulled and happy at my own hands.

[Heming]

Lovely stuff that.

I didn't know that Burns wrote in Standard English also.

Many don't know that - but reading his English works and comparing them with his Scots works is very satisfying - if you like poetry, that is...

[thescot]

Many don't know that - but reading his English works and comparing them with his Scots works is very satisfying - if you like poetry, that is...

That is very true. It's part of the great charm one finds in Burns. His ability to swing from heavy, serious contemplations of freedom, the Rights of Man (and Woman), and romantic solicitations is another intriguing attribute.

Here is one of my favorite pair in standard English. (Apparently he was a bit premature in the first):

EPITAPH ON MISS JESSY LEWARS
Say, Sages, what’s the charm on earth,
Can turn Death’s dart aside?
It is not purity and worth,
Else Jessy had not died.

THE RECOVERY OF JESSY LEWARS
But rarely seen since Nature’s birth,
The natives of the sky,
Yet still one Serpah’s left on earth,
For Jessy did not die.

[macwilkin]

THE BOOK WORMS
Through and through the inspir'd leaves,
Ye maggots, make your windings;
But oh! respect his lordship's taste,
And spare his golden bindings.


LINES COMPOSED ON THE WINDOW OF THE GLOBE TAVERN, DUMFRIES
In politics if thou would'st mix,
And mean thy fortunes be;
Bear this in mind: Be deaf and blind,
Let great folks hear and see.

[McMurdo]

And now back to Burns poetry.

I used the following in a eulogy I wrote for my Uncle McMurdo, he was my Godfather and I am honoured to be named after him.

On My Own Friend And My Father's Friend, Wm. Muir In Tarbolton Mill

1784
Type: Epitaph

An honest man here lies at rest
As e'er God with his image blest;
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so informed:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

[macwilkin]

And now back to Burns poetry.

I used the following in a eulogy I wrote for my Uncle McMurdo, he was my Godfather and I am honoured to be named after him.

On My Own Friend And My Father's Friend, Wm. Muir In Tarbolton Mill

1784
Type: Epitaph

An honest man here lies at rest
As e'er God with his image blest;
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so informed:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

Many thanks for posting that one, Glen. It reminds me of the lines of one of RB's most famous poems that I read a dear friend's memorial service back in 2007:

Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
'An honest man's the noble(st) work of God.

-- The Cotter's Saturday Night

T.

[McMurdo]

Here's another wee bit o Burns that's worth remembering

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!

--To A Louse

[Lachlan09]

I still think "A Man's A Man" is the most profoundly powerful of his works and his sentiments make me proud to be Scottish.

The equality of humankind irrespective of background, race, colour, religion, sex. Inspiring !

[McMurdo]

I still think "A Man's A Man" is the most profoundly powerful of his works and his sentiments make me proud to be Scottish.

The equality of humankind irrespective of background, race, colour, religion, sex. Inspiring !

That's one reason why part of it is my signature line and has been for quite some time. While I'm not Scottish, a "Man's a Man for a' That" speaks to me as a citizen of the planet, as a part of the human race the sentiment expressed I think gives all something to shoot for, a goal if you will.

[macwilkin]

That's one reason why part of it is my signature line and has been for quite some time. While I'm not Scottish, a "Man's a Man for a' That" speaks to me as a citizen of the planet, as a part of the human race the sentiment expressed I think gives all something to shoot for, a goal if you will.

And the words are more true than ever, given the terrible tragedy in Haiti.

T.