Robert Burns - To A Mouse - Poem

[@TheOriginalDJMoses]

This is the best reading of this poem I've ever heard in my entire life

[@peigimccann]

Thank-you!

[@Woug]

@@peigimccann I second that - exquisite! I actually clapped at the end of the video like the silly bean I am I was so moved 🧡

[@ron611087]

To invest sweat for a benefit only to be realised in a seasons time. To have compassion for fellow creatures. To understand that the abstraction of future and past makes us different to other animals. To know that these are the things things make us human. Philosophers debate at length on these things. An 18th century farmers son summarised them all in a single poem. Now that's an original beautiful mind.

[@kevinblessing4257]

The best recitation of that remarkable poem. He may be Scotland's national poet, but Rabbie had a deep soul, one any compassionate human can see, he's timeless and beyond borders. His works will move anyone that has a fu**ing heart. And I will recite his works until they cover me up. Sheboygan Wi here.

[@iris-kg3vz]

'Fellow mortal' all creatures should be thought of like that.

[@rebeccasherrod4966]

Such a beautiful thought! :)

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

These words can only come from a person who's sight and sensibility extends beyond the normal, blinkered view, bearing in mind that this was written in the 1700s.

[@crazylegs654]

Thats a true scottish accent

[@karesfn3506]

True really true

[@onwiyu5343]

it’s more than an accent it’s scots

[@berniestephens4506]

@@onwiyu5343 It’s Ayrshire to be fair

[@glasgow1234]

Robert Burns is not just for Scotland to enjoy.... It is for the world to enjoy his magnificent work. He really was a true man and work is pure and beautiful ! Long may his poems filter through the centuries.....

[@MrTurquillo]

Much love from Turkey. Scottish accent is my favourite.

[@francette19380]

Très, très beau. Magnifique langue, extrordinaire poem. J'aime l'écosse, j'aime Burns. Thank you so much.

[@maxblanchard5258]

C'est très interessant, les fans qui viennent des pays où l'anglais n'est pas la langue préferée! Bonjour des États-Unis!

[@francette19380]

@COLIN NGUYEN great thanks for the translation

[@nicholasmclaine4398]

Hello francette

[@francette19380]

@@nicholasmclaine4398 I wish you a loving merry Christmas

[@nicholasmclaine4398]

@@francette19380 Thanks francette, that's so nice of you. Just pray God help us all

[@brookeredman2336]

One of my favorite poems!

[@ThefightingCelt]

Burns uses the mouse as the metaphor for the poor and less fortunate members of society, who struggled each day just to keep a roof over their heads.

[@achloist]

A fine example of how this should be read. There’s a temptation to rattle off the first verse. He’s apologising and commiserating with the mouse, even before he compares it to his own situation. Wonderful piece.

[@jamiehalifax4954]

I just love how he describes mans encroachment on wildlife..our fellow mortals . RIP Robbie

[@EuropeYear1917]

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley"

[@iamundergrace]

standing ovation. i didn't think i would enjoy that as much as i did. very touching.

[@AllTheNewStuff1]

you know. I can't find a better person to read this with the greatest accent than my english teacher. Thanks Ms. Bishop.

[@stuffstuffstuffyay]

well done that was so awesome, i got goose bumps. I only remember the first stanza or two after being forced to learn it at high school, but i am glad i remember that!

[@ArsenicJulep]

Thanks so much for this. I found a mouse dying in my apartment hallway tonight, and thought I'd post a few verses of this poem as a tribute to the poor wee beastie.

[@titan-worldsoldestcat8657]

Having listened to this and modern translations - the passion is clearer in this than in the modern even if i cannot understand all the words - it is the feeling like music that transcends the national barriers - rest quietly wee timorous beastie , live in the here and now since the best laid plans of you and man come to nought enjoy the now!

[@peigimccann]

Thank-you.

[@robertburnsguide8590]

Fantastic reading of a wonderful poem!

[@Hidinginyourcupboard]

My favourite poem

[@nacho1560]

Maybe Rabbie's most profound poem ever. The thought that man and mouse were both mortal and kindrid was not common in his days.He was far beyond his time in seeing all life as one, all creatures great and small deserving attention. A genius far before his time.

[@FBWL-u1r]

I have to study this poem (among other Romantic poetry) for school and I'm glad this recording is uploaded so I know how it's pronounced since I'm not very familiar with the Scottish dialect

[@ac8907]

Well R are rolling.

[@hannahfulton7519]

I am loving it

[@chicagomagpies]

Callum, I thank you and I wish I knew you. We have "Burns' night" here and I know a bar called Tam O' Shanter.......Americans of Scottish descent are paying attention. All the best --

[@LazlosPlane]

Damn. This "Burns" guy really knows how to turn a phrase. Anyone else hear of this guy? Marvelous. Thanks.

[@crummycarp6662]

I don’t know if your taking the piss or not but aye he’s even got his own day

[@teaandcakee]

Happy Burns Night everyone 🥃

[@logy2185]

happy burns

[@zeph7691]

made me greet, so ye did.

[@vogonsrock]

Wonderful poem and fantastic to hear it spoken.

[@RoseLCL]

Thank you for another wonderful Robert Burns video beautifully presented as always by David Sibbald, a joy to look at and listen too. I hope there is more to come. well done. Love Rose

[@slhoey]

I think this has just become a favorite poem...Rabbie Burns..one of the best poets and writers of songs..

[@rnr5682]

very, very well done. burns is still so relevant to us today---throughout the entire world

[@joetylerdale]

Thank You! If my mind only touches the outer edge of Robert's understanding....

[@Urgelt]

Wonderful. Sibbald is a marvel; I love his pacing and clear enunciation. The slide show you've added to his narration enhances my joy of Burns' ironic poem.

[@alcoholly18]

Fantastic!

[@LonnieLovegood]

I wish more people saw the world as Burns, we're all one thing above all else. Mortal.

[@ImReign]

The things I go through to get a 5 point extra credit.

[@Bigbigbogbig]

Same

[@sethboyrd3052]

@@Bigbigbogbig Saaaaaameeeeeee

[@farzanamughal5933]

Wdym

[@WalidAlgeria1]

LEGEND

[@Bronzepennies]

This video is a LIFE saver! I have to memorize the poem for the burns supper. Thaaaaanks!!! :)

[@poptartvrreacts1]

Some hae meat canna eat Some hae meat want to eat We hae meat that we can eat Let the Lord be thankit There is a Robert burns poem

[@carlfro62]

Happy Robert Burns Day! That was a great poem to the lowly mouse. It's nice to see something on KZbin that calms instead of aggravates! Thanks.

[@irishelk3]

Love the voice, good poem.

[@gd8839]

Why has this got over half a million views and only 1.6K likes...yiz wee beasties!!!

[@givey972]

Happy Burns Night 2017

[@yokithecheakychick8726]

Nice poem reading helped me alot x

[@Sirgromulus]

Very informative. I have been a Burns fan since high school. Thanks for posting this!

[@inkathebadger]

The poems is about him accidentally destroying a mouse's den with his plow right before winter set in and his remorse for doing so. As well it comments on how the best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry.

[@rubsvally3894]

doing this at school!!!

[@stealth3015]

same im in the last paragraph

[@gacha_cookies-ze6ll]

Same

[@gacha_cookies-ze6ll]

I'm the third paragraph

[@bonniemitchell123]

Very nice~ thank you

[@peigimccann]

Mike yes, of course!

[@arianaajbeaverhausen8175]

Happy Burns Day tae aw ye braw folk fae Edinburgh! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

[@platypus121]

Very enjoyable, thanks.

[@jordantweedie4733]

Happy burns night 2016

[@johnboegman]

I love the question--"anyone else hear of this guy?" Yeah -- every year at New Year's. He wrote the poem that became "Auld Lang Syne," the song we sing (at least the chorus) at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the new year.

[@browad891]

He didn’t write auld Lyne syne. He wrote down a traditional folk song it was later attributed to him by a poet friend.

[@nataliereti7241]

awsome

[@acerb4566]

love it!

[@mahismelodies3685]

This is underrated

[@mahismelodies3685]

Also yes I found this because of my teacher :,D But still, its beautiful

[@philiplewin7134]

Beautiful poem narrated in beautiful scottish accent

[@widsy]

Beautiful recitation of a beautiful poem. gaunnae geez ony mair?????

[@chrisc4636]

Happy burns night 2018!!

[@cufflink44]

Beautiful reading by someone who not only understands the language but also the meaning. The best on KZbin by far.

[@hushabyebritty9293]

This video just radiates: *Rats Rats we are the rats energy*

[@jamgilp]

Yeah I know! He really should be published! He's got some talent!

[@ThefightingCelt]

@kitesflyhigher Yes, on the surface it is about the wee sleekit, cowerin', timorous beastie ( i.e the field mouse) but he looked at the mouse's plight and quickly drew comparison with the poor farmers in Ayrshire - some of whom were often thrown out of ther farm because they couldn't pay the rent or make ends meet. Therefore, being a humanitarian at heart, he looked at the bigger picture - and used the mouse's struggle as an anology for the downtrodden and most vulnerable in society.

[@Rossdhu16]

Well done.

[@DisobedientSpaceWhale]

I love this poem 🐀. The video nicely matches up too. All the wee mousies 🐀.

[@lucaadams6478]

Quality

[@suuzzee5]

Poor little beastie, I'd take him in! :)

[@hartistry]

nice reading!!!

[@skittlesareyum48]

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy! I'm not sure if this is the sole inspiration for the entire book of "Of Mice and Men" by Steinbeck, but it is definitely the main theme of the story, as well as where the title is derived from.

[@beans6013]

'-' welp, we're doing this at my school ( for my class ) lol

[@Valdiant]

Gotta listen to this for school and I get it! THank YOu

[@rollinwiththeflow]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem with me! I hadn't heard/read this in eons! Plenty o' mice 'round here...indicating 10 months of Winter coming? Probably! :)

[@breannawhite4578]

you very talented :>

[@wommpomm]

happy burns night 2014

[@blaxcot]

Love it Peigi. David is so powerful. Do ye mind if a borrow yer video for a wee try of ma ain? :)

[@lizaluk]

I think this poem expressed the sacrifice of mouse against joy of human.

[@YaakovHynds]

The braw Scots toung!

[@loveiverwashereasherself4803]

That’s so pretty Oh this video is great

[@sternbergzookie]

@DrSpooglemon It does an excellent job of straddling the line between foreign and familiar, being generally intelligible with a dash of Scottishness. I lament that I'll probably never be able to grasp this lovely dialect.

[@GavinAReid]

Doing this at Murricewood PS P7 poems

[@loveiverwashereasherself4803]

Pretty leaves Ohhh my leaf🍁

[@stephencampbell3264]

A fucking genius

[@jamgilp]

It's always been forward as far as I know. Doesn't change the meaning though so it really doesn't matter.

[@havetohavemusic]

Zneekerz: there's a good translation at the Wikipedia page. KZbin doesn't seem to like links, but just search Wikipedia for "To a Mouse"

[@Jojoseahorse]

@19996669991 We had that quote as an essay question (any interpretation we wished) in an English exam at my high school in 1981. Our future (and that of the world) did not look too bright back then, but hey, here we are :) Thanks for this beautiful poem and video; I live in NY now, but have not forgotten from whence I came :)

[@shadowjack8]

Do not turn on closed captions, it will not help, but only further confuse.

[@Kevloow]

I like mouse

[@hihi-iv6vl]

This got sing this at Robert burns day

[@TherealMrChristophel]

@bloobear1 is there further dialects within scots?

[@VidkunQL]

In the last verse, _"...the present only toucheth thee..."_ Does "only" modify "toucheth", as this reading suggests (i.e. it merely touches you, it doesn't haunt you)? Or could it modify "present" (i.e. only the present can hurt you, while I am tortured by the past and future, which are nothing to you)?

[@habriknaal4627]

a bit late as a response but I think it's the latter

[@thattimestampguy]

1:50 Say the line

[@christiansabeliever]

This guys accent has a beard.

[@iainmackenzie3704]

How pertinent....

[@shiro182]

The mouse is so cute!!

[@LazlosPlane]

Hello. I just noticed that Mr. Sibbald places an "s" on "forward" in the next to last line. Any explanation for this? Is there an "s" in some editions, perhaps?

[@DoThingsYk]

I just wanna understand what he is saying, I gotta reflect on it for my british literature class and I enjoy the poem but I don't know what half of it is saying. Please help, I can't drop below a c

[@peigimccann]

You can see a translation here that might help robertburnsfederation.com/poems/translations/554.htm

[@BEC123ize]

cute awww

[@ThefightingCelt]

Think of the mouse as a metaphor for the poor and disadvantaged.

[@peigimccann]

Live pronounced as "leave" rhymes with the previous line, thieve. If you go to the Online Scots Dictionary you'll see that "leeve" is one word for the English live. Burns used both Scots and English in his poems, so had both languages at his disposal.

[@corydorastube]

And Lallans.