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A Poem Ne Ly Sprung in Fairvie

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A Poem Ne Ly Sprung in Fairvie A Poem Ne ly Sprung in Fairvie by CLARK AYCOCK ave you ever sung “Auld Lang therefore able to write in the local Ayrshire Syne” on New Year’s Eve? dialect, as well as in “Standard” English. He Or have you ever uttered the wrote many romantic poems that are still phrase, when frustrated, “the recited and sung today, and some of us may best-laid schemes of mice and men…”? remember his songs more easily than we do Did you know that John Steinbeck’s classic his poetry. in a human book Of Mice and Men was based on a line Robert Burns infl uenced many other head, though I in a poem written “To a Mouse”... or that poets including Wordsworth, Coleridge have seen the most a Tam O’ Shanter cap was named aft er a distinguished men of my time.” and Shelley. Walter Scott was also a great A commemorative plate showing character in a poem by that name? And admirer and wrote this wonderful descrip- In the late 1700s, many Scots migrated did you know that singer and songwriter tion of Burns that provides us with a clear from the Piedmont into the mountains of Robert Burns in the center Bob Dylan said his biggest creative impression of the man. “His person was WNC, bringing with them their country's surrounded by characters from inspiration was the poem and song “A strong and robust; his manners rustic, not culture and craft and inherent connection his poems Red, Red Rose”? Yes, we are talking about clownish, a sort of dignifi ed plainness and with Burns. One Scotsman who shares the works of world-renowned Scottish simplicity which received part of its eff ect that connection is Fairview's Tom Milroy. poet Robert Burns, who lived in Ayrshire, perhaps from knowledge of his extraordinary Although born in Yorkshire (England), Scotland from 1759 until his untimely talents...I think his countenance was more Tom is of Scottish and Basque ancestry. including many of his handwritten death in 1796. massive than it looks in any of the portraits... He came to North Carolina in the 1970s to manuscripts. On the grounds, you can Perhaps the main reason so many people there was a strong expression of shrewdness study at UNC-Chapel Hill and lived in the walk in Tam O’ Shanter’s footsteps, are familiar with Robert Burns is that his in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, Triangle area for over 30 years. But then, including over the Brig o’ Doon, the themes and language were of everyday life. indicated the poetical character and tempera- being a mountain man at heart, he moved 15th-century bridge that is a critical part He used small subjects, most notably the ment. It was large, and of a dark cast, and to Fairview about fi ve years ago. of the famous poem. It is not surprising mouse, to express big ideas. Like many literally glowed when he spoke with feeling In 2016, Tom that Tom and Linda Scots, Burns was well-educated, and was or interest. I never saw such another eye traveled to Rose lingered at Glasgow to During a workshop on the museum for the spend time with rest of that lovely his girlfriend, Scottish poetry, Tom was summer day. Inspired by Robert Burns Linda Rose. given the assignment to write Th at memory was Th e couple still fresh in Tom’s A Celebration in Poetry, Music and Song drove into the a poem from the perspective mind when he partic- Monday, August 31 7:30 pm Ayrshire coun- ipated in a workshop tryside with of a minor character in literature. on Scottish poetry at The Town Crier and the Fairview Public Library present a celebration no particular the John C. Campbell He chose to write from the Folk School near of some of the works of Robert Burns, featuring people who have destination in mind. She spot- point of view of Kate O’ Shanter, Brasstown (in been inspired by his words and songs. You must fi rst register with the ted a wee post WNC) in August library before attending this free Zoom event. To fi nd a direct link to the offi ce on the the wife in Robert Burns’ 2019. It was taught registration page, go to fairviewtowncrier.com/links. side of the road by Bobbi Pell, who Tom Milroy will read two poems by Burns and then his own cre- and asked Tom “Tam O’ Shanter.” has written several to pull over so books about Celtic ation, “Kate O’ Shanter.” Andrew Geller will play the bagpipes, which that she could tales and Scottish he studied after attending a Burns Supper at Tom’s house in Durham. mail a postcard she had been carrying lore. It was Scottish Heritage Week at the He has been a prizewinner at the Grandfather Mountain Highland around for weeks. When she returned, she school, and it was inspiring for Tom to be Games. And Daniel Shearin of the Asheville-based band River Whyless, pointed out that there was a Robert Burns among such an amazing group of harpists, which has toured in the US and Europe, will perform a few of Burns’ museum on the other side of the road. weavers, blacksmiths, calligraphers, singers, Unwittingly, the couple had arrived in instrument-makers, chefs and others. One songs. A singer-songwriter and Grammy-nominated recording Alloway, the birthplace of Burns and site of the assignments given by Pell during engineer, Shearin led the audience in the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. the poetry workshop was to write a poem at the Orange Peel in Asheville on New Year’s Eve 2018. The museum, which incorporates from the perspective of a minor character the cottage where Robert Burns was in literature, a technique called dramatis born, contains thousands of artifacts, personae. Tom chose to write from the 16 THE FAIRVIEW TOWN CRIER August 2020 Written in August 2019 in the mountains of North Carolina by Tam O’ FairviewK (Tome Milroy)O’ and revisedSh with the helpte of Hugh Farrell Kate O’ Shanter’s greatest sadness at stormy weekend, Wa’ that drink was driving while Tam was drinkin’ Tam tae madness. Witches and warlocks from their O three nights a week he spent in Ayr hooses were slinkin’. On a drive through the With Suitor Johnnie; they made To the ruined Alloway kirk they came Scottish countryside, quite a pair. Where Tam would ride on his Linda Rose Macfarlane and ings were now quite oot o’ hand road tae hame. Tom Milroy stopped to mail a So Kate determined tae make a stand. postcard at a small post ofice— She called him a skellum but What happened next ye all that didn’t work know verra well. which just happened to be And a drunken blellum – a bit o’ a jerk. For poor Tam thought he across the street from the She coaxed and cajoled Tam for had entered hell. Burns Cottage. days and days So, when the witches gave their chase, But her e orts le him quite unfazed. Tam drove poor Meg as if ’t were a race. Soon rumors aboot Tam and Kirkton Jean became widespread Now in Tam’s wee cottage upon a nail And Kate’s heart was abreakin’ ere hangs in glory the point of view of Kate O’ Shanter, the wife of in Durham. Th ese events made a big there alone in her bed. Grey Mare’s Tail. Tam O’ Shanter in Burns’ poem. Th e result impression on Tom's friend, Sprague For ’twas Kate who had scared Tam was Tom’s poem, entitled “Kate O’ Shanter.” Cheshire, who described his fi rst Burns Now Johnny, being a romantic fella, near tae death in the dark Before we get to why you’re reading Supper as follows:“I did not know Tom Had married a European named Isabella. When, dressed as Witch Nannie about Tom now, you need to know a little very well at that time and had a working She was a seamstress of great renown, in a Cutty Sark, bit more about Burns and his legacy. knowledge of Burns but defi nitely not And women ocked tae her She had caught up with Maggie Some readers of the Crier might have in-depth insights into the poet and the celebrated the life and works of Burns man,” he said. “Th at night turned out to be who needed a gown. a er dancing a jig by participating in a Burns Supper. life changing for me. Tom had put together O times when Tam and Johnny And had yanked her tail o Every year, on or around Burns’ birthday an event that was far beyond anything I had gone o to Ayr before the brig. (January 25), these celebrations are held could ever have imagined. Th e poetry, the Kate and Isabella their worries all over the world. Th e fi rst supper, held music, the camaraderie. Th e highlight of would share. e lessons learned that night in 1801 with Burns and nine friends, was the evening was the ‘Toast to the Immortal One evening they came up with a by Tam and Kate a huge success. A modern supper usually Memory,’ which was about the life and wonderful plan Ha’e opened up for them a includes a meal (featuring a course of works of Burns delivered by Tom. For Ye could call it shock-therapy for heavenly gate haggis) followed by toasts and speeches close to an hour, he kept the sizable crowd Kate’s beloved man.
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