While Europe’s eye is fix’d on mighty things,
The fate of empires and the fall of kings;
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

Forgive me. I’m late to the table with this subject but it could be argued that a man like Robbie Burns should be celebrated any time his auld acquaintance comes to mind.

This past Thursday was Robbie Burns day. Those of us in the know gave a sincere nod of appreciation to this poet who was a master storyteller and an astute observer of human behaviour. He’s said to have been ahead of his time for his liberal views of equal rights for all, women included. I believe his lasting appeal lies in his accurate and succinct summaries of our fights, foibles and fancies. Was he ahead of his time or is it that we, as humans, really don’t change that much?

Often, Burns’ work is overlooked because the original language is so inaccessible to modern ears. A line from the poem Tam O’Shanter reads; 

Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal, 
(…which translates to…)
Wizened hags to wean a foal. 

Tam O’Shanter, is a rollicking good tale of a man who, after too much to drink, rode through a storm to escape the devil and his witches. His wife, (a sulky, sullen dame), sat at home “nursing her wrath to keep it warm.”

“Nursing her wrath.” What a great line. We’ve all met that person, the one who won’t let go of an issue. Or perhaps that person is yourself, but you can’t realize it, because, as Dear Robbie points out;

O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

In Scotland he’s probably best loved for the song, A Man’s a Man for A’ That, a stunning ode to egalitarianism; every man deserves equal respect regardless of wealth or status.

I will leave you with the Selkirk Grace, a humble reminder to be thankful for both food and health–the absence of either limits the enjoyment of each.

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be Thankit!

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime. Facebook or email.