Robbie Burns Day

For most Scots around the world this is an evening of celebration... for it is Robbie Burns Day. I'll be honest Robbie Burns doesn't have a whole lot of meaning for me... I'm not Scottish and none of my ancestors were either as a matter of a fact we were considered by Robbie Burns and his ilk to be the very di'il incarnate... you see we are English.... or at least of English descent. Still there is something about Scotland and all thing Scottish that attract me.

There's something about the Highlands of Scotland that really attract me as a travel destination. I have learned quite a bit about Scotland over the years because of my love for all things Scottish. A few years ago I wrote here on this very blog a great deal about Argyle Socks... which are only an incarnation of kilts on the bias... In addition to reading what I can about the history of kilts, I've read as much as I can about the various islands around Scotland, from the Hebrides (where one of my spinning wheels comes from) especially Iona where the Celtic version of Christianity grew and flourished, to the Shetlands (which I'd give my right arm to visit especially Fair Isle, and I love Shetland wool) in the far north.  And don't get me started on Hamish MacBeth... loved the T.V. program but even more I loved the Hamish MacBeth books especially when I can get them on audio books. I also love the Diana Gabaldon books of a woman who travels back through time to 1700s Scotland to meet the love of her life during the tumultuous time of  the Jacobites and the Battle of Culloden. I also loved the story of The Stone Of Destiny. So with all my interest in things Scottish I decided a couple of years ago to try to learn more about the iconic Robbie Burns.  First of all I learned straight away that he would have never permitted anyone to call him Robbie... it would have been Robert Burns but it seems that the Scots have given him the pet name Robbie much to his dismay if he were still alive. His poetry is well known the country over (that's Scotland not Canada) and people can quote him in the blink of an eye. So I thought lets give it a try... and try it I did! It is without a doubt the most difficult thing I have ever read.... mostly because I don't understand a frickin' word of it. Still I try. I have a Scottish friend who sometimes is willing to translate things for me. But mostly it is complete double dutch. and I thought Newfinese was difficult to understand. Well let me tell you we Newfies don't hold a candle to the Scots.

It was earlier today that hearing a short excerpt from one of the CBC radio programs about this being Robbie Burns days that I decided once again to try reading a little of his poetry. Actually I heard someone reading one of his poems and let me tell you it was beautiful to listen to that piece of poetry. I quickly looked it up on the internet and all the romance in the spoken version I had just heard on the radio flew right out the window when I tried to read it.  The romance was gone .... just like that I had spoiled a perfectly good poem. Still I did come across a website about Robbie Burns that had a translated version of some of his other poems and among them (and to my surprise) I found this one... oh and by the way the first one is the original as Robert Burns wrote it and the second is the translated version...

Bessy And Her Spinnin' Wheel

1792

    O Leeze me on my spinnin' wheel,
    And leeze me on my rock and reel;
    Frae tap to tae that cleeds me bien,
    And haps me biel and warm at e'en;
    I'll set me down and sing and spin,
    While laigh descends the simmer sun,
    Blest wi' content, and milk and meal,
    O leeze me on my spinnin' wheel.

    On ilka hand the burnies trot,
    And meet below my theekit cot;
    The scented birk and hawthorn white,
    Across the pool their arms unite,
    Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
    And little fishes' caller rest;
    The sun blinks kindly in the beil',
    Where blythe I turn my spinnin' wheel.

    On lofty aiks the cushats wail,
    And Echo cons the doolfu' tale;
    The lintwhites in the hazel braes,
    Delighted, rival ither's lays;
    The craik amang the claver hay,
    The pairtrick whirring o'er the ley,
    The swallow jinkin' round my shiel,
    Amuse me at my spinnin' wheel.

    Wi' sma' to sell, and less to buy,
    Aboon distress, below envy,
    O wha wad leave this humble state,
    For a' the pride of a' the great?
    Amid their flairing, idle toys,
    Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys,
    Can they the peace and pleasure feel
    Of Bessy at her spinnin' wheel?

Here it is again written so the we English can hear it and understand it...

Bess and Her Spinning Wheel

I'm happy with my spinning wheel,
And happy with my wool to reel,
From head to toes it clothes me fine,
And wraps so softly me and mine.
I settled down to sing and spin,
While low descends the summer sun,
Blest with content, and milk and meal,
I'm happy with my spinning wheel.

On every hand the brooklets wend,
Up to my cottage by the bend,
The scented birch and hawthorne white,
Across the pool their arms unite,
Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
And little fishes cooler rest:
The sun shines kindly where I dwell,
Where smoothly turns my spinning wheel.

On Lofty oaks the pigeons croon,
And echo out their doleful tune;
The linnets in the bushes raise
Sweet songs that rival other lays.
The crakes among the clover run,
The partridge whirring in the sun,
The swallows swooping for their meal,
Amuse me at my spinning wheel.

With small to sell and less to buy,
Above distress, below envy,
Oh who would leave this humble state,
For all the pride of all the great,
Amid their flaring, idle toys,
Amid their cumbrous noisy joys ?
Can they the peace and pleasure feel
Of Bessie at her spinning wheel ?

When I finished reading the second version I thought wow... how very fitting...

Happy Robbie Burns Day.... may your Haggis, Neeps and Tatties be just as good as can be....