Wednesday, January 14

burns night -to a haggis



From the Scottish Screen Archive, via the National Libary of Scotland, (above is a still only, click here for the link) is a great example of an address 'To a Haggis'. (Made at the 145th Burns Supper of the Irvine Burns Club.) Note everyone is in black tie, not kilts. 70's sophistication perhaps? Burns Night is January 25th ...so get practising.

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 wordy of 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!