"To a Mouse" by Robert Burns (poetry reading)

My "Scottish" accent is only an impression. The pronunciation is anglicised to make it more intelligible to most listeners. Nobody really knows what a Scottish accent sounded like in Burns' time. It's equally unlikely that a modern Shakespearian actor speaks in a way Shakespeare would recognise. Authentic Scottish accents by great actors, Brian Cox, Tom Fleming and Richard Wilson, can be heard here at the British Broadcasting Company:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/robertburns/works/to_a_mouse/

Later: I found a much better version than mine on YouTube - listen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8lehO7nqg

In more modern English:

Small, sleek, cowering, timorous beast,
O, what a panic is in your breast!
You need not run away so quickly
Squeaking with alarm!
I would not want to run and chase you,
With a murdering spade.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!

I don't doubt that sometimes you may steal;
What then? Poor beast, you must live!
An oocasional ear of twenty-four bundles
Is a small request;
I'll get a blessing with what's left,
And never miss it.

Your small house, too, in ruin!
It's fragile walls the winds are blowing!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of thick green grass!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both harsh and keen!

You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel ploughshare past
Out through your cell.

That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.

But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often awry,
And leave us naught but grief and pain,
For promised joy!

Still you are blest, compared with me!
The present only touches thee:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mouse
• Robert
• Burns

[ahlem8]

worst rendition of this poem i have ever heard. Too anglicised for my liking. Better with a good Scots accent and then an explanation for those who need it.

[SpokenVerse]

@ahlem8 I have posted 1000 poems on YouTube, from everywhere English is spoken. Poetry that is Irishmen, Welsh, Australians, Americans and from various regional English dialects . Why should I leave the Scots out? And why is it that nobody but the Scots insist on their own authentic regional accent?

[ahlem8]

@SpokenVerse

Burns poetry was meant to be read using a Scottish accent. I just don't like to hear it anglicised. Scottish people need the accent, fierce patriotism I guess. Personal pref, nothing more to add. Don't take it personally, it was not meant to be personal.

You must have a lot of time on your hands to have uploaded over 1000 poems.

ahlem8 9 minutes ago

[SpokenVerse]

@ahlem8 So you think the reason why somebody would upload 1000 poems is that they have time on their hands? Think about it some more. Everybody isn't like you.

If you make a polite, sensible remark I'll allow it to remain. But I'm going to delete what you've said so far.

[ahlem8]

@SpokenVerse delete what you want, I don't really care. I commented as I saw it, clearly only positive comments suit you, some people hate criticism and can't handle it. As I stated I prefer to hear Burns works with a Scottish accent.

[SpokenVerse]

@ahlem8 Rude people always complain that their rude remarks are "negative criticism", And then tell me that it's my weakness that I can't handle it. I am handling it.

I already explained in the notes that I'm not Scottish. I provided links to readings that are in an authentic Scottish accent.

[keeyraf]

Love it! Thank you!

[rath1e]

I am Scottish through and through and I am proud to be Scottish through and through but it really irritates me when I see this kind of closed minded, up-in-arms protective Nationalism. Burn's is a figurehead of Scottish culture, share him with whomever is interested. 10 Scot's reader's would reciet it 10 different ways. I like to read English and American poems too, and if I do it aloud I do it in my accent.

[crazylegs654]

Yeah , I live in Edinburgh . I only do it for progects though ...

[DramaLovingDoggie212]

I loved this. I've been reading some of his stuff but...it helps to hear it more.