S3E97 Iconic Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson is the subject of today's podcast, as Ash looks at his breakthrough poem, 'The Daft Days':Â
Now mirk Decemberâs dowie face
Glowrs owr the rigs wi sour grimace,
While, throâ his minimum of space,
The bleer-eyâd sun,
Wi blinkin light and stealing pace,
His race doth run.
From naked groves nae birdie sings,
To shepherdâs pipe nae hillock rings,
The breeze nae odârous flavour brings
From Borean cave,
And dwyning nature droops her wings,
Wi visage grave.
Mankind but scanty pleasure glean
Frae snawy hill or barren plain,
Whan winter, âmidst his nipping train,
Wi frozen spear,
Sends drift owr aâ his bleak domain,
And guides the weir.
Auld Reikie! thouârt the canty hole,
A bield for many caldrife soul,
Wha snugly at thine ingle loll,
Baith warm and couth,
While round they gar the bicker roll
To weet their mouth.
When merry Yule-day comes, I trou,
Youâll scantlins find a hungry mou;
Sma are our cares, our stamacks fou
Oâ gusty gear,
And kickshaws, strangers to our view,
Sin fairn-year.
Ye browster wives, now busk ye braw,
And fling your sorrows far awa;
Then come and gieâs the tither blaw
Of reaming ale,
Mair precious than the well of Spa,
Our hearts to heal.
Then, thoâ at odds wi aâ the warlâ,
Amang oursels weâll never quarrel;
Thoâ Discord gie a cankerâd snarl
To spoil our glee,
As langâs thereâs pith into the barrel
Weâll drink and âgree.
Fidlers, your pins in temper fix,
And roset weel your fiddle-sticks;
But banish vile Italian tricks
Frae out your quorum,
Not fortes wi pianos mix â
Gieâs Tulloch Gorum.
For nought can cheer the heart sae weel
As can a canty Highland reel;
It even vivifies the heel
To skip and dance:
Lifeless is he wha canna feel
Its influence.
Let mirth abound, let social cheer
Invest the dawning of the year;
Let blithesome innocence appear
To crown our joy;
Nor envy wi sarcastic sneer
Our bliss destroy.
And thou, great god of Aqua Vitae!
Wha sways the empire of this city,
When fou weâre sometimes capernoity,
Be thou preparâd
To hedge us frae that black banditti,
The City Guard.
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Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy Drops. All other music by Epidemic Sound.Â
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