How have your mornings been during the festive period? Have you been rising early or snuggling up and hoping for a lie-in? Here are some thoughts on early mornings from Robert Burns in his poem Up in the Morning Early…
Poet and lyricist Robert Burns was born in Scotland in 1759, in a house built by his father. He was the eldest of seven children and lived in poverty; receiving little formal education. However, he went on to become a great poet – regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and the national poet of Scotland.
Up in the Morning Early
by Robert Burns
1788
Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west,
The drift is driving sairly;
Sae loud and shrill’s I hear the blast,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.
Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure its winter fairly.
The birds sit chittering in the thorn,
A’ day they fare but sparely;
And lang’s the night frae e’en to morn,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.
Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure its winter fairly.
What do you make of Up in the Morning Early by Robert Burns? What feelings does it evoke? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below…
If you’d like to read more about the life of poet Robert Burns – visit the BBC arts section for a brief summary or the Visit Scotland site, for a more in-depth look at the artist’s life.
Picture credit: images from Designspiration