Robert Burns’ famous poems & songs

Address to a Haggis (1786)

Address to a Haggis is Burns' humorous ode to the humble haggis. Presenting haggis as a symbolic part of Scottish culture, Burns' poem led the way for haggis becoming not only a popular meal but Scotland's national dish.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!

Tam O' Shanter (1790)

Burns' epic poem Tam o' Shanter tells the tale of a man who stayed out too late drinking and witnessed unsettling visions on his way home, like the witches' dance described below. It is a good example of Burns' diversity as a writer as his sense of humour is clear in the poem.

Warlocks and witches in a dance:
Nae cotillon, brent new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and mettle in their heels.

Is There For Honest Poverty (A Man's a Man For A' That) (1795)

Is there for Honest Poverty is one of the places where Burns expresses his fierce egalitarianism most strongly, stating that good sense and an independent mind are worth far more than titles and finery.

Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:

That was just a taste of the marvellous and thought-provoking poetry and songs that Burns produced in his lifetime, but there are plenty more to discover.

Explore more famous works by Robert Burns