My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose

No, that's not a typo. In honor of Robert Burns' birthday, I spelled love as he did in his 1794 poem.

Robert Burns was born January 25, 1759, in Scotland. Although he was born into a poor family and had little formal schooling, but was taught by his father, and he read extensively. He married Jean Armour in 1788, two years after she gave birth to their twins. They had nine children. Robert also had several affairs, at least one of which bore a child, and some of his love poems were written for these women, not Jean.

Robert Burns is known for poetry written in Scottish (which is unreadable to an English speaker) and English in the Scottish dialect. Hence the title of this blog post. He is also known as one of the original Romantics. In addition to poetry, he wrote original song lyrics and collected folk songs from Scotland and Ireland. "Auld Lang Syne" is one song he set to a traditional tune.

Robert Burns had a rheumatic heat condition, which may have contributed to his death, following a tooth extraction in July 1796. He was 37 years old.

Scotland still considers Robert Burns to be their national poet, and they celebrate Burns Night with haggis, and the reading of Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis." Burns Suppers are shared around the world, and more Scotsmen celebrate this day than celebrate the national holiday of St. Andrew's Day!

Enjoy "A Red, Red Rose."

I doubt you'd enjoy the haggis.