BURNS UNIT

If it is not the Reivers it is Burns. Away in Derby we missed the commemoration of Robert Burns one fleeting visit to Coldstream-the first true Border Toon on May 7th 1787. He crossed the bridge into England to have a wee look and hastened he back again. Then presumably returned to real Burns country Ayr way, never again to darken Coldstream's doors. Nothing much has happened in Coldstream since apart from events faithfully recorded in the records of the Duns' Sheriff's court so the Burns Club make as much of this stirring event as they can. Accordingly every year they commemorate his visit with the Chairman of the club going down on one knee to recite a verse from 'The Cotters Saturday Night' as Burns himself did on that momentous May Day all those years ago. (You can revere all 21 verses at http://www.rabbie-burns.com/thepoems/cotters.htm )
Wreaths were also laid by the plaque which commemorates the Rabbi's visit. Town dignitaries were in attendance and all is photographed in the Berwickshire; front page stuff of course.

I wonder how many Olde English Townes have plaques commemorating visits by the Bard of Avon. It is not known for certain whether visited Scotland but he did of course write a great Scottish drama Macbeth. He may have of course researched it on Stratford Wide Web rather than visit the exact locations. If he did come north he may well have done so via Coldstream-surely worth another plaque and the recitation of a sonnet. Hutton Think Tank (Myths, Media and Memory section) are researching the possibility that a missing Shakespeare Folio contains another play about Scotland: 'James IV' . It is not known if the Bard wrote it as a Tragedy or a Comedy. The sub title 'Much Ado about Nothing' has of course been used elsewhere and gives some clue to its thrust.

Here is a flavour of this Burns Ballad. This may well have been the verse recited on the Bridge last Sunday. As usual it is a mixture of patriotism and socialism. The last word is puzzling. Did Burns when crossing Coldsream Bridge believe he was leaving the Isle of Scotland? Even in his day it was joined to England?

O Scotia! my dear, my native soil!
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!
And O! may Heaven their simple lives prevent
From Luxury's contagion, weak and vile!
Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent,
A virtuous populace may rise the while
And stand a wall of fire around their much-lov'd Isle.


  ¶ 9:26 AM