The Power of Scottish Poet, Robert Burns.

“Oh, would some power.”

A poem by “Rabbie Black” written in 2021 as a modern adaptation of the famous lines by Rabbie Burns. He wrote “To a louse” while sitting in church behind a “posh” lady who had a louse creeping around in her hair. How many stupid thoughts and actions would we tackle differently, if we could see ourselves like other people see us? Unfortunately, the wisdom of Burn’s words got a bit lost in the ramblings of his concern for the louse. My modern version deals solely with the theme of our self-centred stupidity and isn’t so concerned about the fortunes of a parasite insect.

Oh, would some power, the giftie gi’e us, Tae see ourselves as others see us. It would from many a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion.

Some think they’re weak. Some think they’re strong. Some think they’re right. Some think they’re wrong. Some think they know where they belong. Such foolish notion?

Some sit at the front. Some sit at the back. Some like tae be loved and some love back. Some love and live wi’ a burnin’ fire. And blind devotion.

Some like tae dress in natty style. An’ some a bitty drab all the while. Some tip their hats wi’ crafty guile. An’ others have nae notion.

There’s those wha think they’re kings and queens. There’s those wha live beyond their means. Some think their face should fill our screens. What foolish notions.

D’you knock at the door or wait at the gate? D’you turn up early or turn up late? Arrive last minute in a terrible state Just tae cause a commotion.

An’ then the folks wi’ meagre meat. A belly-full, the rarest treat. Wha’d like tae hae a bite tae eat. While we hae food tae fill an ocean.

Oh, would that power the giftie gi’e us, Tae see ourselves as others see us. It would from many a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion.

If you like this adaptation of the Burns classic, you may be interested in a full-length crime and romance novel inspired by the Glasgow Ice-cream Wars. It’s mostly in standard English with a few parts of conversation in Glasgow dialect. Like most cities Glasgow has it’s own character, it’s own sense of humour and a rich collection of words and expressions that “belong tae Glesca”. Check out “Spirals of Truth” by Robert Grieve Black, an e-book in Kindle Amazon. It’s free if you have Kindle Unlimited. To read my other stuff free in Medium just click the link below. https://rgblack.medium.com/