Burns Night 2010

Jug regulars gathered for a fantastic night in honour of the Scottish Bard, Robert Burns. It was the 251th anniversary of the famous poet's birth on 25 January, 1759.

   The traditional celebration included the address to the haggis ( Ode to a Haggis) delivered by Drew Robertson before regulars tasted the delicacy and toasted the night with 'amber bead'!

   In case an Enblish translation is was need here's a few key words picked out (red in brackets) to help you understand the Burns peom.

Ode To A Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, (cheerful)
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place, (Above)
Painch, tripe, or thairm: (paunch/guts)
Weel are ye wordy of a grace worthy
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill, (buttocks)
Your pin wad help to mend a mill skewer
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight, (wipe)
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, (skill)
Trenching your gushing entrails bright (Digging)
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich! (steaming)

Then, horn for horn, they strech an' strive: (spoon)
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, (bellies/soon)
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, (burst)
'Bethanket!' hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow, (sicken)
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect sconner, (disgust)
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash, (weak/rush)
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit; (fist/nut)
Thro' bluidy 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, (choice)
He'll make it whissle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned, (trim)
Like taps o' thrissle. (tops/thistle)

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o'fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware (watery)
That jaups in luggies; (splashes/porringers)
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

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