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Burns Night Poem

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Address to a Haggis

‘Address to a Haggis’ is traditionally recited on Burns Night after the haggis has been brought in and set on the table. January 25th

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Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,

Great Chieftan 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.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hurdies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o’ need,

While thro’ your pores the dews distil

Like amber mead.

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,

An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like onie ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:

Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,

Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve

Are bent like drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

Bethankit hums.

Is there that owere his French ragout,

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad mak her spew

Wi’ perfect scunner,

Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view

On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,

As feckless as a wither’d rash,

His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,

His nieve a nit;

Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash,

O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He’ll make it whissle;

An’ legs, an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,

Like taps o’ thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o’ fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware

That jaups in luggies;

But, if ye wish her gratfu’ prayer,

Gie her a Haggis!

Robbie Burns

11 Replies
RoadRunner44 profile image
RoadRunner44

What a poem! I thought it would never end poems1! What I love is trying to understand those Scottish words. I found myself trying to read the lines aloud with my version of a Scottish brogue.

I love different languages and the way language has evolved. I don't profess to understand the words completely but Im interested in trying!

in reply toRoadRunner44

Not the easiest of poems I grant you. But there were so many to choose from, The Mouse, Auld Lang Syne for example. :-)

knitter profile image
knitter

Thanks, I am just doing a Future learn course on Robert Burns too.

Interesting poet, I remember visiting his birthplace cottage in Ayrshire .

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Que?

Only joking Kath, what a poem! Xx

in reply tosassy59

Not one of mine Carole. Wish I'd chosen Auld Lang Syne now :-)

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to

No I know it’s not one if yours but it’s a strong poem. Xxx👍😘

I don't know what he is rattling on about, but I do know that I love haggis. 🍽🥃🥃

in reply to

Me too Don.

Hacienda profile image
Hacienda

I'm watching a Series with David Tennant in, and his Scottish Accent is so Broad, I have to Pause and re play to catch what he's saying, much like this Poem Kath. Thanks for sharing. Love n Hugs C. XXX

in reply toHacienda

Hahaha I think I've set a bit of a challenge. 🙄

Ergendl profile image
Ergendl

I've heard that orated over a haggis many times at the Clan MacThomas Gatherings in Perthshire.

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