Tag Archives: Burns

Address to a Haggis

Robert Burns (This poem is recited to the haggis after it has been brought to the head table of the Burns Supper in a noble procession including a piper, someone carrying the “groaning trencher” laden with the haggis, and others carrying bottles … Continue reading

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Immortal Memory 3: Holy Willie’s Prayer

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

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Immortal Memory 2: A Brief Burns Bio

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

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Immortal Memory 1: Introduction

(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

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Fellow Burns Supperians:

(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

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Auld Lang Syne II (My subtext)

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

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Auld Lang Syne I (Burns’ Complete Text)

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

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Burns Night Supper

Here’s an invitation Anita and I received to attend a formal, high-fallutin’ Burns Supper.  I’m excited to be going, especially now that I’ve been the chairman (what they call the Master of Ceremonies of a Burns supper, as opposed to the … Continue reading

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The Selkirk Grace

By Robert Burns Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit. (This is the prayer traditionally prayed at Burns Suppers.)

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