Flowers For Socrates

Updated – originally published on January 22, 2016 

by NONA BLYTH CLOUD

Saturday, January 25, will be the 261st anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns (1759–1796), forever the National Bard of Scotland.  It is a widely celebrated event in his country and in many places around the world, known as Burns Night, when many Scots and those of Scots heritage will meet for a Burns Supper.

It is customary at a formal Burns Supper for a speaker to rise after the meal and the first round of recitations to deliver a discourse known as the Immortal Memory. It is not a standard set of words, but instead the speaker’s view of the life and work of Robert Burns. This is both an honor and a responsibility placed upon a member of the company considered an able orator, but the Immortal Memory must also capture the Bard’s wit and humor, and even his bawdy side which shows in the songs like “How can I keep my maidenhead.” For all that he was a child of tenant farmers, and worked the land himself for much of his life, Robert Burns was a very complex man.

Here are just three of his many poems and songs. If you’d like to follow custom — read them aloud.  Don’t let the Scots dialect throw you. Play a bit o’ the pipes music on your machine, take a wee dram of a single malt whisky – lubricates the tongue – an’ hae a’ it.

_________________________________

Scots Wha Hae

Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
……….Or to victory!

Now’s the day, and now’s the hour;
See the front o’ battle lour;
See approach proud Edward’s power—
……….Chains and slavery!

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward’s grave!
Wha sae base as be a slave?
……….Let him turn and flee!

Wha for Scotland’s king and law
Freedom’s sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa’,
……….Let him follow me!

By oppression’s woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
……….But they shall be free!

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty’s in every blow!—
……….Let us do or die!

Scots Wha Hae is one of the most famous poems written by Robert Burns, and certainly one of the best expressions of his intense nationalism. This poem is his tribute to Robert the Bruce, who in 1314 roused his troops before the Battle of Bannockburn, for a victory in which Scotland kept its sovereignty against the forces of the Kingdom of England. It also calls up memories of William Wallace, who defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

Scotland’s independence from England ended at the battle of Culloden in 1745, so it was too risky for Burns to openly express such patriotic sentiments, and the poem was originally published anonymously. Scots Wha Hae was quickly set to music, to two different traditional tunes, but the first tune, ‘Hey Tuttie Tatie’ became the standard choice.  It is now the party song of the Scottish National Party, sung at the close of their annual national conferences.

_________________________________

Continue reading →