Robert Burns: Selected Poems and Songs

by Robert Burns

1996 is bi-centenary of Burns death. The collection celedrates him as Scotlandsfinest lyric poet.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Fiction

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Robert Burns (also known as Robin) was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. He also wrote in English and a "light" Scots, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.

As well as making original compositions, Burns collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and Scots Wha Hae has served as an unofficial national anthem. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today, include A Red, Red Rose, A Man's A Man for A' That, To a Louse, To a Mouse, The Battle of Sherramuir, Tam o' Shanter and Ae Fond Kiss.

Reviews

[Rachel Johnson]

My poetry knowledge is quite bare.
There’s a gap in my education there.
A Scottish poet, with words unknown
Was perhaps not a good stepping stone.

Nevertheless my enjoyment was great,
Some nights I read his work quite late.
Burns sure loved a Bonny lass
And also the sky and trees and grass.

[Carly Shilling]

My all time favorite Burns poem (which I like to sing to myself a bit too much)

A Red, Red Rose

O, my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve's like a melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair as thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will love 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 love thess till, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run:

And fare thee well, my only luve!
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

[Douglas Summers-Stay]

His poetry always makes me laugh. Here he is addressing the devil, telling him to shape up:

But fare-you-weel, auld Nickie-ben!
O wad ye tak a thought an' men!
Ye aiblins might - I dinna ken -
Still has a stake -
I'm wae to think upo' yon den,
Ev'n for your sake!

Does anyone know what the word 'unco' means?

[Jules]

Went on a holiday to Scotland and was in Ayr so obviously needed to read some Burns! I see why the Scots love him so much, a lot of playfulness and heart in these poems and a fabulous travelling companion for the weekend.

[megan 🧚🏻‍♀️]

As is almost always the case with poetry, this collection improves the more Burns delves into an esoteric whimsy. What starts as arguably banal ‘love?’ poems progresses into heartfelt defences of small creatures and then into the wonder that is Tam O Shanter. I think it is impossible to regard Burns separate from a Scottish identity as it is a nationality which breeds a very specific kind of creativity. Themes of perseverance, community, optimism, the smaller things—are all rendered with a rich imaginative topography. In this way, it’s impossible to refute how Burns stands as a perennial figure of how Scotland breeds creative individuals. The little mouse is smiling down from heaven, I’m sure. 🐁

[Dave Christian]

Reading the auld Scottish proved to be a difficult task.

[Oz]

I don’t love every Burns poem but this collection contains so many favourites. I read this while living in England, and found so much comfort in reading to myself out loud, just to hear my own accent in someone else’s words.

[Megan Amato]

I simply love burns.

[Valerie]

Yet another compendium I am working my way through.