"Robert Burns and Highland Mary" by Thomas FaedA Sonnet for Burns Night, by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society January 24, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 43 Comments . Note: Burns Night is when Scotland’s most important bard, Robert Burns (1759-1796), is celebrated, usually with the recitation of Burns’ poems, the eating of haggis, and the drinking of whisky. It occurs on January 25, Burns’ birthday. . An English Sonnet for the Scottish Bard for Burns Night Tonight, I’m lured by Rabbie’s red, red rose. His crowlin ferlie calls me to the charms Of Nessie, lochs, and bagpipes in the throes Of Auld Lang Syne as kilted kin link arms. I’ll raise a peaty whisky To a Louse, Eat haggis, snaking steam, piped in with glee. I’ll lift a Rusty Nail up To a Mouse— A tim’rous beastie blest, compar’d wi’ me! I’ll tell of Tam o’ Shanter riding hard From wanton witches. Oh, that cutty-sark— Diaphanous enough to spur a bard To steer some saucy stanzas through the dark. To all who have a heart and gut to nourish, Come revel in some luscious Gaelic flourish! . crowlin ferlie – tiny oddity Rusty Nail – whisky and Drambuie cocktail (2:1) cutty-sark – skimpy nightdress . . Susan Jarvis Bryant has poetry published on Lighten Up Online, Snakeskin, Light, Sparks of Calliope, and Expansive Poetry Online. She also has poetry published in TRINACRIA, Beth Houston’s Extreme Formal Poems anthology, and in Openings (anthologies of poems by Open University Poets in the UK). Susan is the winner of the 2020 International SCP Poetry Competition, and has been nominated for the 2022 Pushcart Prize. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 43 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson January 24, 2023 Some of the essences of Scotland I recognize including poetry through the eyes of Robert Burns. This poem is a delicious, if less than nutritious romp, although I do not know if haggis qualifies one way or the other. Of course, the taste of alliteration remains on the tongue and tantalizes the senses like “steer some saucy stanzas…” I am always drawn to your poems with great admiration and am always rewarded. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Roy, I’m glad you enjoyed my Burns Night offering and I’m smiling over your haggis observation. I love haggis. I’ve eaten it in the Highlands of Scotland with tatties (potatoes) and (neeps) turnips with a whisky cream sauce and a wee dram of Glenfiddich and I’ve eaten it every year since… I’ve even introduced Mike to it. He loves it too… but draws the line at black pudding. Mike calls it blood pudding, which might be why he refuses to eat it. I will admit to never having a craving for this British breakfast treat myself. Roy, thank you for your lovely comment. Reply David John Etchell January 24, 2023 usual brilliance Sue, helped by knowing Burns very well. We once visited his farm Ellisland. in Dumfries– what a genius. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Dave, it’s lovely to see you here, and thank you very much for your comment. What a treat to visit Ellisland Farm – a place I wish I’d gone to. I love Scotland and have spent many a wonderful holiday in the Highlands. I found the landscape wild and daunting… I think it prepared me for Texas. 🙂 Rabbie was indeed a genius! Reply Paul Buchheit January 24, 2023 Masterful, Susan. Insightful, complex, fun to read! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Paul, thank you very much for your wonderful comment. It’s thoroughly appreciated. Reply Jeff Eardley January 24, 2023 Susan, a Scottish friend of mine will be roaming the streets tomorrow night, practising the ancient martial art of “Seeyoutoo,” otherwise known as, “The Glasgow Kiss” on anyone called “Jimmy.” The rest of Old England will be turning Celtic for one night of fun, neeps, tatties and a wee dram or two. I hope your wonderful poem blows all over America tomorrow. Thank you for an extra special piece of writing. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Jeff, thank you for your marvellous comment… a comment that’s taken me skipping hand in hand through heathered glens with Russ Abbott in ginger-jock mode!! LOL A priceless moment – thank you! Reply Paul Freeman January 24, 2023 Here’s to the Celtic clansmen! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Slàinte! Reply Brian A Yapko January 24, 2023 Wonderful poetry, Susan, which is so skillfully infused with Scottish references that it has revived my strong desire to see Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland. Thank you for the introduction to some unfamiliar Gaelic terms. I’m going to go eat some shortbread and listen to some bagpipes now in honor of your honoring Burns. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Brian, thank you very much. I thoroughly recommend a log cabin in the Scottish Highlands… the scenery is breathtaking… and those castles! Magnificent! Listening to bagpipes while eating shortbread is a little bit of Gaelic heaven. Bagpipes played on heather-swathed moors sound hauntingly beautiful… book that vacation! 🙂 Reply Norma Pain January 24, 2023 Great fun and clever poem to celebrate Robbie Burns birthday. Thank you Susan. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Thank you, Norma. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. Reply Joseph S. Salemi January 24, 2023 Some advice for anyone walking home tonight through Edinburgh, after having drunk too many toasts to Burns: Dinnae drink thy heid unricht Or daunder throu the street at nicht But keep thine een wide wauken, do — Fur ane wicht cryand “Gardyloo!” Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Tonight, after my rusty nail, I will call upon the ghost of Rabbie to reveal the magic secret of this lilting linguistic lovely before embarking upon my treacherous journey to bed. Joe, thank you! And a happy Burns Night to you! Reply Joseph S. Salemi January 25, 2023 It’s not in Rabbie Burns. It’s by me, writing in Lallans Scots. Here’s the standard English: Don’t drink until your head’s unclear Or go dawdling through the street at night But keep your eyes wide awake For anyone crying “Gardyloo!” In old Edinburgh, people cried out “Gardyloo!” before dumping their slop pots (filled with urine and excrement) out the window and into the street below. It’s from the French “Garde a l’eau!” (watch out for the water). Susan Jarvis Bryant January 26, 2023 Joe, I love this… it has me smiling at the English tales I was told as to why the ladies always walked on the inside and the gentlemen on the outside. In the days of the chamber pot, chivalry reigned supreme. Your Lallans Scots poem (which looks very German in places) is wonderful read aloud. Sally Cook January 24, 2023 Dear Susan – Thanks for reminding us once more, of those things we never should have forgotten –among them, a great poet and his works. Love the spritelyness of your poem ! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Sally, it’s always lovely to hear from you and I’m with you all the way on keeping great poets and their works alive. I hope you are going to raise a wee dram to the Scottish bard tonight. Thank you, my friend. Reply Sarah Shahzad January 25, 2023 well wonderful work… excellent read.. I’m write poems to so check my site and tell me my work 🙂 thank you Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Thank you, Sarah. Reply James Sale January 25, 2023 The ultimate compliment to you, Susan: tonight I have a Burns dinner party going on at my house for exclusive guests – I shall read your poem out loud and not pretend it’s mine! Bravo! It’ll certainly go down well with the whiskey! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 James, I’m thrilled to hear this… a wonderful compliment indeed. Here’s wishing you a magnificent evening. I trust you’ve practiced your highland fling and dusted your sporran off for the occasion. Just one question… why the “e” in whisky? I hope you’re not partaking in a Texan variety… although, I’m sure Rabbie would approve. James, thank you and have fun!! Reply James Sale January 26, 2023 Mea Culpa – most people in England seem not to know the difference; I do, but got lazy. Yep – though tee-total, I drank some whisky for medicinal purposes. And we had a great time – the haggis was superb and someone tried to upstage me reading your poem with a ukulele performance spoofing Burns! However, your poem was massively admired and a great time was had by all. I can say that if the event had been recorded and put on social media, it would have been a sensation, though sadly it might have provoked a Woke invading-Scottish army coming into England and heading for Derby for the first time since 1745. Discretion is the better part of valour so that video won’t be appearing (and was never made!). Greetings post-Burns! Susan Jarvis Bryant January 27, 2023 James, what a wild night you’ve had! I’m thrilled my poem went down well… I can only begin to imagine the strains of the ukulele in the absence of bagpipes… a little kinder on the ear in close quarters, methinks. And for the ‘e’ or not to ‘e’ question… a wee dram by whatever name would taste as sweet. Wonderful!! Joshua C. Frank January 25, 2023 Susan, this is great! I love the old songs (in fact, folk songs as a genre are one of my poetic influences), so I’m familiar with Robert Burns and the like… though it’s hard to understand some of the Scottish words, so thank you for the footnotes. Your poem makes me realize, I really should look into his work some more… Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Josh, I’m thrilled to hear this poem has whetted your appetite for a helping of Burns. He’s wild and wonderful and you may need to read the translations to get the full impact of his poetry… poetry that I’m surprised is celebrated in this fickle age of harm to the sensibilities. Thank you very much! Reply Cynthia Erlandson January 25, 2023 Very cleverly done, Susan! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 I appreciate your words, Cynthia. Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing this one. Reply C.B. Anderson January 25, 2023 I sometimes drink whiskey, but most of the time I stick to whisky. I’m an Anderson, after all. I’ve never had haggis, but I tend to like organ meats, so it’s probably a go for me. I recently watched a video on how the stuff is made, and it turned me sheepish — nothing better than a portion of good lamb. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 C.B., you are speaking my language and I promise you, haggis brings out the peaty tang of whisky… or is that the other way round. Either way, I have a feeling you’d love haggis… best eaten with a view of the Cairn Gorms with a bunch of lucky heather pinned to your sporran. Reply Pippa Kay January 26, 2023 Really enjoyed this poem Susan. Thank you. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 You are most welcome, Pippa. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. Reply Janice Canerdy January 26, 2023 Your skillfully-composed, lively sonnet celebrates some of Burns’s best known lines~~and employs creative rhyming in the process. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Thank you very much, Janice, for your encouraging observations – they’re much appreciated. Reply Shaun C. Duncan January 27, 2023 Although born in Glasgow, my grandmother was extremely proud of her Ayrshire roots, so Burns is a particular favourite of mine. None could match the sheer musicality of his verse and I can’t think of anyone writing today better suited to pay tribute to him than yourself. Your work is always a pleasure to read and this is no exception. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Shaun, what a wonderful comment – thank you! And how lovely to hear your grandmother has Ayrshire roots. I expect she is a feisty and fun lady with many a tale to tell. The Scottish landscapes and culture are magnificent and Burns certainly brought both to life in his melodious poetry… which begs to be read in a Scottish accent… sadly, my poor imitation doesn’t do Rabbie’s poems justice. Reply Satyananda Sarangi January 27, 2023 Greetings Susan ma’am! You better be ready at home this weekend! Burns may pay you a visit after reading this Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Satyananda, thank you very much. Mike and I celebrated in style here in Texas as we do every year… the spirit of Robert Burns made an appearance… after the second wee dram. 🙂 Reply Mark F. Stone January 29, 2023 Susan, A well-crafted poem rich in regional, historical, literary and cultural references. The concluding couplet puts a nice bow on top of the package. Nicely done! Mark Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Mark, thank you very much. I do hope Sunny approved and that the iambic barktameter was to her liking. Reply Michael Vanyukov July 6, 2023 A great tribute. I met Burns very young, in translation into Russian by Samuil Marshak. Reading him would take me away from the drab Soviet life to the world where everything was possible. 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Roy Eugene Peterson January 24, 2023 Some of the essences of Scotland I recognize including poetry through the eyes of Robert Burns. This poem is a delicious, if less than nutritious romp, although I do not know if haggis qualifies one way or the other. Of course, the taste of alliteration remains on the tongue and tantalizes the senses like “steer some saucy stanzas…” I am always drawn to your poems with great admiration and am always rewarded. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Roy, I’m glad you enjoyed my Burns Night offering and I’m smiling over your haggis observation. I love haggis. I’ve eaten it in the Highlands of Scotland with tatties (potatoes) and (neeps) turnips with a whisky cream sauce and a wee dram of Glenfiddich and I’ve eaten it every year since… I’ve even introduced Mike to it. He loves it too… but draws the line at black pudding. Mike calls it blood pudding, which might be why he refuses to eat it. I will admit to never having a craving for this British breakfast treat myself. Roy, thank you for your lovely comment. Reply
David John Etchell January 24, 2023 usual brilliance Sue, helped by knowing Burns very well. We once visited his farm Ellisland. in Dumfries– what a genius. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Dave, it’s lovely to see you here, and thank you very much for your comment. What a treat to visit Ellisland Farm – a place I wish I’d gone to. I love Scotland and have spent many a wonderful holiday in the Highlands. I found the landscape wild and daunting… I think it prepared me for Texas. 🙂 Rabbie was indeed a genius! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Paul, thank you very much for your wonderful comment. It’s thoroughly appreciated. Reply
Jeff Eardley January 24, 2023 Susan, a Scottish friend of mine will be roaming the streets tomorrow night, practising the ancient martial art of “Seeyoutoo,” otherwise known as, “The Glasgow Kiss” on anyone called “Jimmy.” The rest of Old England will be turning Celtic for one night of fun, neeps, tatties and a wee dram or two. I hope your wonderful poem blows all over America tomorrow. Thank you for an extra special piece of writing. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Jeff, thank you for your marvellous comment… a comment that’s taken me skipping hand in hand through heathered glens with Russ Abbott in ginger-jock mode!! LOL A priceless moment – thank you! Reply
Brian A Yapko January 24, 2023 Wonderful poetry, Susan, which is so skillfully infused with Scottish references that it has revived my strong desire to see Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland. Thank you for the introduction to some unfamiliar Gaelic terms. I’m going to go eat some shortbread and listen to some bagpipes now in honor of your honoring Burns. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Brian, thank you very much. I thoroughly recommend a log cabin in the Scottish Highlands… the scenery is breathtaking… and those castles! Magnificent! Listening to bagpipes while eating shortbread is a little bit of Gaelic heaven. Bagpipes played on heather-swathed moors sound hauntingly beautiful… book that vacation! 🙂 Reply
Norma Pain January 24, 2023 Great fun and clever poem to celebrate Robbie Burns birthday. Thank you Susan. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi January 24, 2023 Some advice for anyone walking home tonight through Edinburgh, after having drunk too many toasts to Burns: Dinnae drink thy heid unricht Or daunder throu the street at nicht But keep thine een wide wauken, do — Fur ane wicht cryand “Gardyloo!” Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Tonight, after my rusty nail, I will call upon the ghost of Rabbie to reveal the magic secret of this lilting linguistic lovely before embarking upon my treacherous journey to bed. Joe, thank you! And a happy Burns Night to you! Reply
Joseph S. Salemi January 25, 2023 It’s not in Rabbie Burns. It’s by me, writing in Lallans Scots. Here’s the standard English: Don’t drink until your head’s unclear Or go dawdling through the street at night But keep your eyes wide awake For anyone crying “Gardyloo!” In old Edinburgh, people cried out “Gardyloo!” before dumping their slop pots (filled with urine and excrement) out the window and into the street below. It’s from the French “Garde a l’eau!” (watch out for the water).
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 26, 2023 Joe, I love this… it has me smiling at the English tales I was told as to why the ladies always walked on the inside and the gentlemen on the outside. In the days of the chamber pot, chivalry reigned supreme. Your Lallans Scots poem (which looks very German in places) is wonderful read aloud.
Sally Cook January 24, 2023 Dear Susan – Thanks for reminding us once more, of those things we never should have forgotten –among them, a great poet and his works. Love the spritelyness of your poem ! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Sally, it’s always lovely to hear from you and I’m with you all the way on keeping great poets and their works alive. I hope you are going to raise a wee dram to the Scottish bard tonight. Thank you, my friend. Reply
Sarah Shahzad January 25, 2023 well wonderful work… excellent read.. I’m write poems to so check my site and tell me my work 🙂 thank you Reply
James Sale January 25, 2023 The ultimate compliment to you, Susan: tonight I have a Burns dinner party going on at my house for exclusive guests – I shall read your poem out loud and not pretend it’s mine! Bravo! It’ll certainly go down well with the whiskey! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 James, I’m thrilled to hear this… a wonderful compliment indeed. Here’s wishing you a magnificent evening. I trust you’ve practiced your highland fling and dusted your sporran off for the occasion. Just one question… why the “e” in whisky? I hope you’re not partaking in a Texan variety… although, I’m sure Rabbie would approve. James, thank you and have fun!! Reply
James Sale January 26, 2023 Mea Culpa – most people in England seem not to know the difference; I do, but got lazy. Yep – though tee-total, I drank some whisky for medicinal purposes. And we had a great time – the haggis was superb and someone tried to upstage me reading your poem with a ukulele performance spoofing Burns! However, your poem was massively admired and a great time was had by all. I can say that if the event had been recorded and put on social media, it would have been a sensation, though sadly it might have provoked a Woke invading-Scottish army coming into England and heading for Derby for the first time since 1745. Discretion is the better part of valour so that video won’t be appearing (and was never made!). Greetings post-Burns!
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 27, 2023 James, what a wild night you’ve had! I’m thrilled my poem went down well… I can only begin to imagine the strains of the ukulele in the absence of bagpipes… a little kinder on the ear in close quarters, methinks. And for the ‘e’ or not to ‘e’ question… a wee dram by whatever name would taste as sweet. Wonderful!!
Joshua C. Frank January 25, 2023 Susan, this is great! I love the old songs (in fact, folk songs as a genre are one of my poetic influences), so I’m familiar with Robert Burns and the like… though it’s hard to understand some of the Scottish words, so thank you for the footnotes. Your poem makes me realize, I really should look into his work some more… Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 Josh, I’m thrilled to hear this poem has whetted your appetite for a helping of Burns. He’s wild and wonderful and you may need to read the translations to get the full impact of his poetry… poetry that I’m surprised is celebrated in this fickle age of harm to the sensibilities. Thank you very much! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 25, 2023 I appreciate your words, Cynthia. Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing this one. Reply
C.B. Anderson January 25, 2023 I sometimes drink whiskey, but most of the time I stick to whisky. I’m an Anderson, after all. I’ve never had haggis, but I tend to like organ meats, so it’s probably a go for me. I recently watched a video on how the stuff is made, and it turned me sheepish — nothing better than a portion of good lamb. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 C.B., you are speaking my language and I promise you, haggis brings out the peaty tang of whisky… or is that the other way round. Either way, I have a feeling you’d love haggis… best eaten with a view of the Cairn Gorms with a bunch of lucky heather pinned to your sporran. Reply
Janice Canerdy January 26, 2023 Your skillfully-composed, lively sonnet celebrates some of Burns’s best known lines~~and employs creative rhyming in the process. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Thank you very much, Janice, for your encouraging observations – they’re much appreciated. Reply
Shaun C. Duncan January 27, 2023 Although born in Glasgow, my grandmother was extremely proud of her Ayrshire roots, so Burns is a particular favourite of mine. None could match the sheer musicality of his verse and I can’t think of anyone writing today better suited to pay tribute to him than yourself. Your work is always a pleasure to read and this is no exception. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Shaun, what a wonderful comment – thank you! And how lovely to hear your grandmother has Ayrshire roots. I expect she is a feisty and fun lady with many a tale to tell. The Scottish landscapes and culture are magnificent and Burns certainly brought both to life in his melodious poetry… which begs to be read in a Scottish accent… sadly, my poor imitation doesn’t do Rabbie’s poems justice. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi January 27, 2023 Greetings Susan ma’am! You better be ready at home this weekend! Burns may pay you a visit after reading this Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Satyananda, thank you very much. Mike and I celebrated in style here in Texas as we do every year… the spirit of Robert Burns made an appearance… after the second wee dram. 🙂 Reply
Mark F. Stone January 29, 2023 Susan, A well-crafted poem rich in regional, historical, literary and cultural references. The concluding couplet puts a nice bow on top of the package. Nicely done! Mark Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant January 31, 2023 Mark, thank you very much. I do hope Sunny approved and that the iambic barktameter was to her liking. Reply
Michael Vanyukov July 6, 2023 A great tribute. I met Burns very young, in translation into Russian by Samuil Marshak. Reading him would take me away from the drab Soviet life to the world where everything was possible. Reply