Meeting Authors - Robert Burns

Today is the Scottish poet, Robert Burns' birth date (1759-1796). Mr. Burns was born in a two-room farmhouse in Alloway, Scotland, the son of a hard-working farmer. The son followed in his father's footsteps, working the land for many years into his adult life. As is so often the case, Robert's formal education was minimal, only three years. How did he learn??? He read...he was a ferocious reader, developing a special love for the works of Shakespeare and Pope. And after he had read, he endeavored to teach himself the art of writing. As Robert made time around his daily work, he continued in his writing until he developed the style that felt most comfortable to him. It was only in 1786, when Burns felt he needed money in order to emigrate to Jamaica, that he publish Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Receiving immediate acclaim, Burns remained in his native Scotland the rest of his days. Robert Burns died at the age of thirty-seven. The following is my personal favorite...

A Red, Red Rose
O my luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June;
O my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will louve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
O I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.

Tomorrow I'll introduce you to the piece of Mr. Burns' poetry most known by Americans...though few are aware it was written by him!