Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland to a poor farming family, and started composing poetry in a traditional style using the Ayrshire dialect of Lowland Scots in 1783. Although he became famous in Scotland the fame was not accompanied by money and he found it necessary to return to farming. He died at the age of 37 as a result of a weak heart brought on by years of poor working conditions on the farm dating back to his childhood. His memory is celebrated by Burns clubs across the world; his birthday is an unofficial "National Day" for Scots and those with Scottish ancestry.
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by Robert Burns
Chorus—Long, long the night,
Heavy comes the morrow
While my soul’s delight
Is on her bed of sorrow.
Can I cease to care?
Can I cease to languish,
While my darling Fair
Is on the couch of anguish?
Chorus
Ev’ry hope is fled,
Ev’ry fear is terror,
Slumber ev’n I dread,
Ev’ry dream is horror.
Chorus
Hear me, Powers Divine!
Oh, in pity, hear me!
Take aught else of mine,
But my Chloris spare me!
Chorus
Note: Aught = anything whatever
Write a poem about illness or health. Send us your texts.
Debmalya Jash writes:
“I was in my childhood then. I used to love watching squirrels very much. They are small, full of life and very restless. Their tails are also very beautiful.
I used to watch them whenever I got some leisure. That day it was morning around 10 o’clock. It was a holiday for me. Beside the window I found a group of squirrels. They were running at each other and making lots of noise. Suddenly I found them climbing on the tree. Their noise had some mark of concern.
A fat cat came into the picture. I realized that was their concern. The cat looked at the tree with deep pain. But it sat very quietly at the shadow of the tree. Time became very boring. No activity from the part of the squirrels. I felt they were very frightened.
Suddenly I saw the cat was moving very stealthily. It was very strange for me. I moved also from window to window to see the cat. All of a sudden it jumped on the tree and caught a squirrel. The poor squirrel cried. I ran after the cat to release my favourite creature. But all my attempts were in vain.
From that time onwards whenever I see any cat in my garden, I just drive them away. That death I can’t forget throughout my life.”
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