As a writer, I’m influenced by the work of many other writers whom I admire. And as a Scottish author, one of the strongest influences on my love of the written word is Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. And today sees the annual commemoration of Burns work in Burns Night celebrations not just in cotland but all over the world where Scots or Scotophiles live. I enjoyed this post from the blog of the Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre. I hope you do too. I’d never seen the two poems they mention, but how poignant they are. And of course they have particular resonance and relevance for me as regards the subject matter of ‘The Silver Locket’.
Since the 25th January is Burns Night we thought we’d do a little blog looking into the famous poet and his small connection with Culloden.
Potrait of Robert Burns
Robert Burns travelled with his friend William Nicol from Edinburgh and travelled some 600 miles across Scotland on his ‘Highland Tour’. The trip stopped at sites of historical significance including Killiecrankie and Burns visited Culloden on 6th September 1787. He wrote little in his diary of his time in and around Inverness but his works suggest Culloden may have stayed in his mind.
His poem ‘The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness’ which is believed to have been written during the last three years of Burns’ life alludes to Culloden and there is also ‘The Highland Widows Lament’ which is said to be Burns’ version of a Gaelic lament about Culloden.
The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness
The lovely lass o’ Inverness,
Nae joy…
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Good morning, Anne! Whenever the name, Robbie Burns comes up, I think of the Mouse.
Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering pattlel
I know there’s more, but that’s all I can remember. 🙂
Hello Mary, thanks for visiting and commenting. I’m impressed with what you can remember of ‘Tae a Mouse’ 🙂