Auld Lang Syne

Holly2
Originally uploaded by ctb57.

Well, here I find myself on the cusp of another new year, and I can't help wondering what this one will bring. My pendulum tells me that I will find more success with my photography. That is my fervent wish to become an established art photographer.

As I write tonight's blog, [i]Weird US[/i] on the History Channel is talking about Robert Burns. As I consider myself a poet of sorts, I was surprised to learn that he penned the words to [i]Auld Lang Syne[/i]. Perhaps I learned this years ago and have simply forgotten.

After a bot of Googling, here's what I discovered:

Burns' name is not affixed to the song, but there seems to be no doubt it is his. He claims the following 2 verses as his own:

"We tae hae ran about the braes," and "We twa hae paidl'd in the burn."

When he spoke of to friends, he called it ancient.

"Light be the turf," he says, "on the breast of the heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment! There is more of the fire of native genius in it than half-a-dozen of modern English Bacchanalians." "Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase Auld Lang Syne exceedingly expressive? This old song and tune has often thrilled through my soul." To Thomson he writes thus:- "The air is but mediocre; but the song of itself - the song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing - is enough to recommend any air."

So, in honor of the passing of 2005 into 2006, all the best to you, my friends.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup,
And surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd.
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gud-wellie waught,
For auld lang syne.

Please follow this link Friction Bailey for Auld Lang Syne wishes from me to you. Click on #10 and enjoy.

Cher

nyc-imagine

nyc-imagine
Originally uploaded by ctb57.

Wow, it's been way-y-y-y-y-y-y too long since I've last posted. Way too long. Funny how things get. We get busy, we get involved in other things, we get a life and time just seems to pass on by.

I've just not been writing much at all lately, and I'm not really sure why. Call it writer's block, call it being uber busy, call it an interest in photography. However, now that the days are shorter, I don't have the time for photography after work that I did have, so maybe there'll be a shift back to more writing.

Who knows?

I talked with my sister last night. Tomorrow we will be burying our mom's sister. She was the oldest of the family and has failed health-wise since mom's death in 2003. Mom was the baby of the family and the 1st to die, and the siblings all took it rather hard. Her passing is for the best, but she will be missed.

Back to my sister. She told me last night that her pastor's youngest son was killed in Iraq last week. He was part of our hometown's Guard unit and was killed when his Humvee ran over a mine. He would have been 20 on the 27th of this month - three days before my niece. She's taking it pretty hard. They grew up together, and she's away at school and very few of her friends understand this loss. I've noticed the same thing here at my uni. The kids are so disconnected from the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Part of it is their age and a part is the role the media plays. How can there be a war or wars going on if we see no bodies coming home in bags or flag-draped coffins? I know how the holidays are when loved ones are taken from us during those times. No time is ever good, but it is harder during special times. Imagine ...

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

-- John Lennon

Cher