Sunday 25th January 2009

It's Burns Night - and this year is the 250th anniversary of his birth.

Leading our Haggis to the slaughter...


Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
...
His knife see rustic Labour dicht,
An' cut you up wi' ready slicht,
Trenching your gushing entrails bricht,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sicht,
Warm-reekin, rich!
...
Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a haggis!
...
from Burns 'Address To a Haggis'

(sonsie = cheeky)
(dicht = wipe / sharpen)
(slicht = skill)
(skinkin ware = watery soup)
(jaups = slops about)
(luggies = two-handled continental bowls)