Address to a Haggis

The haggis is a traditional Scots dish memorialised as the national dish o Scotland bi Robert Burns' poem Address to a Haggis in 1786. It is recited afore mony a Burns supper. Durin Burns Nicht, abody staunds as the haggis is brocht in, fur usual on a muckle dish bi the chef whiles a bagpiper leads the wey tae the host's table. The host, or aiblins a guest, will then recite the poem, slicing open the haggis at the richt moment.

Words
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,  
Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race! 
Aboon them a' ye tak your place, 
Painch, tripe, or thairm: 
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace 
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill, 
Your hurdies like a distant hill; 
Your pin wad help to mend a mill 
In time o' need; 
While thro' your pores the dews distil 
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight, 
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, 
Trenching your gushing entrails bright, 
Like ony ditch; 
And then, O what a glorious sight, 
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: 
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, 
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve 
Are bent like drums; 
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, 
"Bethankit!" hums. 

Is there that o'er his French ragout, 
Or olio that wad staw a sow, 
Or fricassee wad make her spew 
Wi' perfect scunner, 
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view 
On sic a dinner? 

Poor devil! see him owre his trash, 
As feckles as wither'd rash, 
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash, 
His nieve a nit; 
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, 
O how unfit! 

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed -  
The trembling earth resounds his tread! 
Clap in his walie nieve a blade, 
He'll mak it whissle; 
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned, 
Like taps o' thrissle. 

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care, 
And dish them out their bill o' fare, 
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware 
That jaups in luggies; 
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, 
Gie her a Haggis!

 References 

Category:Scots leeteratur
Category:Scots sang
Category:Poetry