‘The Daft Days’ (1772) by Robert Fergusson

S3E97 Iconic Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson is the subject of today's podcast, as Ash looks at his breakthrough poem, 'The Daft Days':  Now mirk December’s dowie faceGlowrs owr the rigs wi sour grimace,While, thro’ his minimum of space,The bleer-ey’d sun,Wi blinkin light and stealing pace,His race doth run. From naked groves nae birdie sings,To shepherd’s pipe nae hillock rings,The breeze nae od’rous flavour bringsFrom Borean cave,And dwyning nature droops her wings,Wi visage grave. Mankind but scanty pleasure gleanFrae snawy hill or barren plain,Whan winter, ‘midst his nipping train,Wi frozen spear,Sends drift owr a’ his bleak domain,And guides the weir. Auld Reikie! thou’rt the canty hole,A bield for many caldrife soul,Wha snugly at thine ingle loll,Baith warm and couth,While round they gar the bicker rollTo weet their mouth. When merry Yule-day comes, I trou,You’ll scantlins find a hungry mou;Sma are our cares, our stamacks fouO’ gusty gear,And kickshaws, strangers to our view,Sin fairn-year. Ye browster wives, now busk ye braw,And fling your sorrows far awa;Then come and gie’s the tither blawOf reaming ale,Mair precious than the well of Spa,Our hearts to heal. Then, tho’ at odds wi a’ the warl’,Amang oursels we’ll never quarrel;Tho’ Discord gie a canker’d snarlTo spoil our glee,As lang’s there’s pith into the barrelWe’ll drink and ‘gree. Fidlers, your pins in temper fix,And roset weel your fiddle-sticks;But banish vile Italian tricksFrae out your quorum,Not fortes wi pianos mix –Gie’s Tulloch Gorum. For nought can cheer the heart sae weelAs can a canty Highland reel;It even vivifies the heelTo skip and dance:Lifeless is he wha canna feelIts influence. Let mirth abound, let social cheerInvest the dawning of the year;Let blithesome innocence appearTo crown our joy;Nor envy wi sarcastic sneerOur bliss destroy. And thou, great god of Aqua Vitae!Wha sways the empire of this city,When fou we’re sometimes capernoity,Be thou prepar’dTo hedge us frae that black banditti,The City Guard.   Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy Drops. All other music by Epidemic Sound.  @earreadthis [email protected] facebook.com/earreadthis