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Chris Minogue's avatar

Thanks so much for a tiny taste of Bobby Burns! Always delightful!

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Alistair Forrest's avatar

Fabulous poem! I shall forward to my Scottish friends, they'll be so 'prood'!

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Mike Byrnes and Watts Nexx's avatar

When you reach a certain age (I did a while ago) you ponder more. At first I spent a lot of time with my imaginary partner, Howdeye Gedheer. These days I spend a lot of time with a new partner, Watts Nexx.

So it's no surprise that Robert Burns' last stanza really rings my bell. Thanks a million!

In the original:

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!

The present only toucheth thee:

But Och! I backward cast my e’e,

On prospects drear!

An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!

-- Here's a version more accessible for this Texan --

Still you are blessed, compared with me!

The present only touches you:

But oh! I backward cast my eye,

On prospects dreary!

And forward, though I cannot see,

I guess and fear!

-- Thank you for launching my new year.

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M. Louisa Locke's avatar

As I age, the saying: "the future is a mystery, the past history, now is a gift...that's why it's called the present" resonates more and more with me! Thanks for sharing!

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