10 An Canach Winter 2012

A Toast to the Lassies

When they called me here, to give this sweet toast,I knew I had no credentials, upon which to boast.Since you know me not, neither hill nor glen.You’ve got to be wondering, will he slur it, and when?

Ye might be right, if you saw me at the bar.Tis’ a place from which I never wander far!But a toast to the Lassies, that is a rare treat.And if I pull this off—'tis at the bar, later, we’ll meet.

For

Together we gather, here to praise All the women around us, they make our best days. Like Robert Burns, Oh--he once knew,That we love our lassies—you see, HE had more than a few.

For our lassies, we would crawl thousands of miles, Only to gaze on their radiant smiles.Over heathery mountain and through scroggy glen, We seek them out, if only for What and When.

These are our lassies, they are a true treasure. When in our arms, they bring us untold pleasure.We seek to marry them, often it is said,For nothing more than to get them to wed.

They stand with us, for better or worse.Mine pledges so, despite this poor verse.And when, too often, we falter or stumble,They lift us up, with nary a grumble.

They teach us manners, they teach us style. For most of us, that takes quite a while. Lassies improve with age, while Laddies do not,And that is clear, looking at this standing lot.

And about this pack of rogues, who dine here tonight, It is truly amazing, the lassies da’na take flight, For they put up with our habits, and we have all sort, Such as control of the remote and a preoccupation with sport.

But,

Tonight we stand, to thank and to praise, Join me Laddies, your voices please raise. Prepare to Boast, use fully charged glassies, Here’s the toast!!!

To our Bonnie Sweet Lassies.

To the Lassies !

Written by Mark Henderson for the Roanoke, Virginia Robert Burns Nacht event sponsored by the Scottish Foundation of the Virginia Highlands (SFVH) to be given on 28 Janusry 2012