Happy Burns Night:
Tonight is Burns Night, a night to celebrate the life and work of Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns. Burns is celebrated across the world for his exemplary and prolific poetry but for us his satirical letter to the representative of Scottish Highland landlords stands out.
In this piece he writes passionately in defence of the right of Highlanders to leave the Scottish Highlands in search of a better life. The landlords of the highlands, MacDonald and Glengarry in particular, are criticised for their attempt to block their movement.
In this letter he takes on the persona of Beelzebub, a devil, and praises the landlords for their deeds. In his letter he ironically asks what right these migrants have to search for a better life;
“What right hae they,
To meat, or sleep, or light o' day?
Far less-to riches, pow'r, or freedom”
Burns concludes his poem by stating that he has reserved a seat in Hell for these landlords;
“A seat, I'm sure ye're well deservin't;
An' till ye come - your humble servant”
This poem stands as a constant reminder of the rights of migrants to search for a better life.
#Burnsnight #immigration #Scottish
