Today marks the annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns–born January 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland.
The picture is a very old miniature leather booklet of his poems that I’ve had for many years. So instead of my usual quote, I’m going to include one of the songs he wrote.
Yet, this day is extra special to me. It also happens to be my sister’s birthday.
Happy Birthday, Vici!
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.
Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods;
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.
I loved this version the best out of all the others I viewed, even though it was promoting a book at the end of the video. 🙂
Thank you for this reminder of the great bard!
I wonder how many people are aware that the famous Auld Lang Syne belongs to him!
I studied Burns at University and he remains one of my favorites alongside Tennyson and Wordsworth.
Wow, Carmen…how fortunate for you to study at Burns University. Since you reminded us of “Auld Lang Syne,” I’ll be humming the tune most of the day. 🙂
Beautiful. Happy birthday to both Robert Burns and your sister. The music and the words are lovely. The pictures make me long for the beauty that is the Highlands.
Thanks, Dianne. I could not help but post a moving video of beautiful Scotland to go along with this song. I so want to return! 🙂