Author Archives: literarylee

About literarylee

I sling words for a living. Always have, always will. Some have been interesting and fun; most not. These days, I write the fun words early in the morning before the adults are up and make me eat my Cream of Wheat.

Immortal Memory 3: Holy Willie’s Prayer

Posted on January 20, 2011 by literarylee

Burns wrote Holy Willie’s Prayer after a friend, Gavin Hamilton, won a contentious lawsuit the local parish of Ayr filed against him.  His friend, a lawyer, was at one point responsible for collecting a poor tax in the parish.  He … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary Events | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Immortal Memory 2: A Brief Burns Bio

Posted on January 20, 2011 by literarylee

Robert Burns was born 200 years and almost 6  months before me on January 25, 1759 to a gardener and his wife in Ayr, in the southwestern part of Scotland.  When Burns turned six his father, William, hired a tutor … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary Events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Immortal Memory 1: Introduction

Posted on January 20, 2011 by literarylee

(One of the central elements of a Burns Supper is the Immortal Memory toast to Burns.  Leading up to that someone gives a speech on Burns, his life and work.  Here’s the intro to what I’ll be saying on Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary Events | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Blizzard is Coming

Posted on January 19, 2011 by literarylee

Usually, I will try to vary what I write from day to day in The Life Literary.  This being Burns Supper crunch-time, I’m afraid an even heavier Burns-ish storm than what’s already blown in this week is going to hit … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Flag

Posted on January 19, 2011 by literarylee

Take Note!!  Tartans and Colors: High standards. (Weary of word play?)

Posted in Whitecaps on the Potomac, Word Play | Leave a comment

At The Scottish Walk

Posted on January 19, 2011 by literarylee

The Scottish Walk parade is an early December, Alexandria, Virginia tradition we enjoy.  This historic, colonial American town with a rich Scottish heritage is one place where a kilt-wearing man fits right in!  Many (20? 30?) Scottish Clan organizations march … Continue reading →

Posted in Whitecaps on the Potomac | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

This Is Not The All Things Scottish Blog

Posted on January 18, 2011 by literarylee

The Life Literary will be about much more than Robert Burns, haggis and kilts.  It will be (and even this Burns-tide, is) about living literarily.  I will write about and model many ways to do that in the coming weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Living Literarily | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fellow Burns Supperians:

Posted on January 18, 2011 by literarylee

(I sent this, a few days in advance, to the folks we invited to our Burns Supper.  I am finding that literary events can be more interesting and fun for participants if they have some background info and can prepare … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary Events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Auld Lang Syne II (My subtext)

Posted on January 17, 2011 by literarylee

I think I truly heard Auld Lang Syne (which means times gone by) for the first time last year, though I’d heard the familiar chopped up version of it many New Years Eves gone by.  It moved me so that … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Living Literarily | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Auld Lang Syne I (Burns’ Complete Text)

Posted on January 17, 2011 by literarylee

Robert Burns  (word meanings below) Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne? CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup of … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary Events, Poems Memorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment