Burns Night

[maggiebee]

The time is fast approaching when we will raise a glass to the Bard and address the haggis. You may not know all the words so I thought I'd share them with you. Of course, very few will be able to commit it to memory in such a short time, but verse one would be a great start. Slainte mhath.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy 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 bead.

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;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit' hums.

Is there that owre 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 bloody 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 gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis

[Mamyalynne]

Enjoy.x

[TheDevil]

Love haggis

[Mamyalynne]

Me too.

[poorclare]

Thank you Maggie.
I take it you are from Bonny Scotland.

I shall toast with a Famous Grouse

Cheers

[Buenchico]

Immortal Robert Burns of Ayr,
There’s but few poets with you can compare,
Some of your poems and songs are very fine.
“To Mary in Heaven ” is most sublime.
And then again in your “Cottar’s Saturday Night”
Your genius there does shine most bright,
As pure as the dew-drops at night.
Your “Tam o’ Shanter” is very fine,
Both funny, racy and divine.
From John o’ Groats to Dumfries,
All critics consider it to be your masterpiece;
And also you have said the same,
Therefore they are not to blame.
And in my opinion both you and them are right,
For your genius there does sparkle bright,
Which I most solemnly declare
To thee, immortal bard of Ayr.
Your “Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon”
Is sweet and melodious in its tune;
And the poetry is moral and sublime,
And in my opinion nothing could be more fine.
Your “Scots wha ha’e wi’ Wallace bled”
Is most beautiful to hear sung or read,
For your genius there does shine as bright
Like unto the stars of night.
Immortal Bard of Ayr, I must conclude my muse,
And to speak in praise of thee my tongue does not refuse,
For you were a mighty poet — few with you could compare,
And also an honour to Scotland, for your genius it is fair.

[William McGonagall]

;-)

[TheDevil]

With root veg mash and gravy with some broccoli on the side i’m always down for that!

[albaqwerty]

gravy?!! Gravy?!!! heathen. pagan.
oh you taste-bud less personage.
gravy

shuffles out of the room muttering......

:-) x

[Buenchico]

^^^ I was served haggis in red wine in a pub in London!

;-)

[TheDevil]

The gravy is for the mash and broccoli

[albaqwerty]

I can forgive the broccoli (just) and completely forgive the gravy providing it won't touch the wee skinned beastie :-)

Haggis in red wine? now that sounds interesting, never tried it so won't knock it x

[Buenchico]

It just needs a wee dram o' the hard stuff in it, Alba ;-)

[Arksided]

A bunch of Scots wishing they were English... lol

[maggiebee]

Sacrilege!!!!! Gravy and broccoli? Rabbie would be birlin' in his grave. Haggis, mashed tatties and neeps with a wee dram to toast the Bard.

Let kings and courtiers rise and fa',
This world has mony turns
But brightly beams aboon them a'
The star o' Rabbie Burns.

[Caran]

I bought a haggis today in Lidl. I usually make a cottage pie with it. OH loves it!

[retrocop]

I had Haggis in the newly opened Wetherspoons pub in Peebles a few years back. It came with a whiskey sauce. Very nice but they charged extra for it.I'm sure they wouldn't serve it as an accompaniment to fish and chips then......may be.

[TonyV]

will be out soon to catch one and a bottle of malt.

[Mamyalynne]

I used to make Haggis pastys for the children.

[tonyav]

The last time I had Haggis was in Glenrothes at the age of 11, I have seen them for sale lately in Tesco. Maybe I should buy one for old times sake.

[Caran]

Is Chinese New Year on the same date this year?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes