Scottish Poetry Selection
- Burns' Centenary
Like many other artists who believed that fame would come their way after their death, Burns pronounced in 1796 "I'll be more respected a hundred years after I'm dead than I am at present." One hundred years after the death of Scotland's bard, Charles Murray wrote this poem - confirming the prophecy.
Burns' Centenary
My fame is sure; when I am dead
A century," the Poet said,
"They'll heap the honours on my head
They grudge me noo";
To-day the hundred years have sped
That prove it true.Whiles as the feather'd ages flee,
Time sets the sand-glass on his knee,
An' ilka name baith great an' wee
Shak's thro' his seive;
Syne sadly wags his pow to see
The few that live.An' still the quickest o' the lot
Is his wha made the lovely cot
A shrine, whaur ilka reverent Scot
Bareheadit' turns.
Our mither's psalms we may forgot,
But never Burns.This nicht, auld Scotland, dry your tears,
An' let nae sough o' grief come near's;
We'll speak o' Rab's gin he could hear's;
Life's but a fivver,
And he's been healed this hundred years
To live for ever.Meaning of unusual words:
ilka = every
baith = both
Syne = soon
pow = head
cot = cottage
gin = if
fivver = fever
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
