On Friendship: Auld Lang Syne

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    Truly a poem and song about friendship, both now and times past. Happy New Year’s Eve tomorrow wherever you may be!

    “Should old acquaintance be forgot,

    and never brought to mind?

    Should old acquaintance be forgot,

    and auld lang syne?

    Chorus:

    For auld lang syne, my dear,

    for auld lang syne,

    we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

    for auld lang syne.

    And surely you'll buy your pint cup!

    and surely I'll buy mine!

    And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

    for auld lang syne.

    We two have run about the hills,

    and picked the daisies fine;

    But we've wandered many a weary foot,

    since auld lang syne.

    We two have paddled in the stream,

    from morning sun till dine;

    But seas between us broad have roared

    since auld lang syne.

    And there's a hand my trusty friend!

    And give me a hand o' thine!

    And we'll take a right good-will draught,

    for auld lang syne.”

    I do love Robert Burns, but it's a sad day for an Epicurean when he can't bring himself to buy a pint for an old friend–as in lines 9 and 10!

    Another excellent poem, and especially relevant for this "towmond" (12-month);

    Contented wi' little, and cantie wi' mair,

    Whene'er I foregather wi' Sorrow and Care,

    I gie them a skelp as they're creepin' alang,

    Wi' a cog o' guid swats, and an auld Scottish sang.

    I whyles claw the elbow o' troublesome Thought;

    But man is a sodger, and life is a faught:

    My mirth and gude humour are coin in my pouch,

    And my Freedom's my lairdship nae monarch daur touch.

    A towmond o' trouble, should that be my fa',

    A night o' gude fellowship sowthers it a':

    When at the blythe end o' our journey at last,

    Wha the deil ever thinks o' the road he has past!

    Blind Chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way;

    Be't to me, be't frae me, e'en let the jade gae:

    Come Ease, or come Travail, come Pleasure or Pain,

    My warst word is:- "Welcome, and welcome again!"

    Happy New Year!

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