Burns Night Poem by Randy McClave

The piper will pipe in the guests
As the host requests,
It is that time of the year to get merry
It is again the 25Th of January.
To all the Lads and the Lassies
Lasses, grab hold of your Laddies,
It is time to celebrate tonight
Indeed, it is Burns night.
It is the birthday of Scotland's bard
So, let us all spiritually sign his card,
And to those living and deceased
Let us remember them all in our feast.
The host will now recite his speech
So, unto the weans and bairns he can also teach,
The reason why we are here with our mate
And why tonight, why do we all celebrate.
So, now as we all sit
In a prayer we must all give a thankit,
Let us give thanks for our place
But, first let's give the Selkirk grace.
Now dinnertime is the coming source
Now let us first start with a soup course,
Scottish broth or Cock-A-Leekie or Cullen Skink
Which we will eat, and then we will drink.
Then when we are finished with the soup
When we swallowed the very last scoop,
Now with joy and excitement we all will grin
As the Haggis, is then piped in.
The bagpiper pipes and leads the way
Followed by the cook carrying the haggis on the tray,
And as if though we are in the Highlands
As for a Laird for the Haggis everybody stands.
As though the first time ever scented or sighted
The poem "ADDRESS TO THE HAGGIS" is then recited,
Then when the poem is finished there is a whiskey toast
Unto the Haggis all will give a boast.
The Haggis is then served with tatties and needs
They are served in two large heaps,
And then we all bow our heads and pray
Unto the noble beast that they did slay.
The speaker then draws his rustic sharpened knife
And plunges it deep into the Haggis with pleasure and delight,
He then cuts the Haggis open from end to end
The succulent aroma to all it will ascend.
Then after the meal comes the dessert
Unto the taste buds it will tempt and flirt,
Cranachan or tipsy laird, followed by oatcakes and cheese
The taste buds and stomach it does please.
Toasts and speeches are now given
As all are now poetry and emotionally driven,
A speech is then given in memory of the poet Robert Burns
In which his poetry, in the soul still turns.
Now unto all the lassies they are given a toast
With speeches and poems amusing and loving in boast,
But, none are given without true respect
As many of us lads, are still a little henpecked.
Now unto the Laddies the Lassie give them their replies
With a toast and smirk and never to apologize,
The lads need not to feel hurt or ever defensive
The toast is fun and amusing, but never offensive.
Now songs and poems by Robert Burns are sung and recited
Now from joy and friendship all are united,
Then unto the Bard they all give another cheer
As if it wasn't for him, they would be celebrating with beer.
Now before Burn's night ends and finally rests
The host calls upon one of the many guests,
He then asks him to give a vote of thanks and a blessing
For the night of celebration that all are expressing.
Now everyone is once again asked to stand
And then all are asked to hold each others hand,
Then as one, the voices of joy and wonder all will combine
As they all sing Robert Burns song, "Auld Lang Syne".

Randy L. McClave