BURN'S NIGHT IN MADRID

January 25th marks the annual anniversary of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet:

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

    gang aft agley

Sounds familiar? I guess it does for those of you whose required reading was Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, absolute masterpiece, if you ask me. 

If you want to know more about his life and works: 

http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poets/robert-burns

For the BBC Four documentary on Robert Burns, the people's poet (one hour and a half), click here.

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 play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve 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:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile

English translation:

O, my love is like a red, red rose,
That is newly sprung in June.
O, my love is like the melody,
That is sweetly played in tune.

As fair are you, my lovely lass,
So deep in love am I,
And I will love you still, my Dear,
Till all the seas go dry.

Till all the seas go dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun!
O I will love you still, my Dear,
While the sands of life shall run.

And fare you well, my only Love,
And fare you well a while!
And I will come again, my Love,
Although it were ten thousand mile!