“Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.”
Slainte Mhath, people.
“Let other poets raise a fracas
‘Bout vines, an’ wines, an’ drucken Bacchus,
An’ crabbit names an’ stories wrack us,
An’ grate our lug:
I sing the juice Scotch bear can mak us,
In glass or jug.
O thou, my Muse! guid auld Scotch drink!
Whether thro’ wimplin worms thou jink,
Or, richly brown, ream owre the brink,
In glorious faem,
Inspire me, till I lisp an’ wink,
To sing thy name!
Let husky wheat the haughs adorn,
An’ aits set up their awnie horn,
An’ pease an’ beans, at e’en or morn,
Perfume the plain:
Leeze me on thee, John Barleycorn,
Thou king o’ grain!”
– from Scotch Drink, by Robert Burns
My favorite Burns’ toast…
Here’s a bottle and an honest friend,
Wha would wish for mair, man.
Wha kens before his life may end
What his share may be of care, man.
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man.
Believe me, happiness is shy,
and comes not ay when sought, man.
Robert Burns