Robert Burns, and why all the fuss Published Jan. 19, 2010 100th Air Refueling Wing RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Robert Burns the poet and lyricist is one of the most famous characters in Scottish History. Although Burns is best-known for writing in the Scottish language, much of his writings are also written in English and light Scots dialect, which makes it more accessible not only to the Scottish people but the rest of the modern world. Much of Burns's poetry was written humorously about his own situations and experiences. This humor has stood the test of time, and it's as funny today as when it was written more than 200 years ago when living conditions were extremely unforgiving for the majority of the population. That Burns was able to see humor at all makes his work even more unique. Humble Beginnings Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie or Robbie, was Scotland's best loved bard (poet); he was born on Jan. 25, 1759 in the wee village of Alloway, near Ayr on the west coast of Scotland. Born to poor peasant farmers William Burness (later changed to Burns by Robert) and Angnes Broun (pronounced Broon, the old Scots for Brown) Burns was the eldest of seven children. Although Robert's youth was spent living in poverty working as a laborer on the family farm, he was surprisingly well read. At 15 Robert found himself running the family farm. It was those circumstances that drove him to start writing in an attempt and remove himself, albeit on paper, from his situation. His first poem "My Handsome Nell" was a lyric devoted to his passions - or some would say demons - namely scotch and women. The Early Years After his father's death in 1784 Burns and his brother Gilbert went on to run the family farm. Sadly Robert was more interested in the romantic nature of poetry and beautiful young women than the day-to-day operations of the farm. That resulted in a string of affairs producing several illegitimate children including two sets of twins by Jean Armour whom he later went onto marry in 1788. There was also an ever increasing tension between Burns and the Church of Scotland due to the way he lived his life. Burns fraught relationship with the Church spurred him on to write poems like "Holy Willie's Prayer" on the hypocrisy of the situation. Difficult Times Feeling disillusioned, Burns planned to give up farming and emigrate to the sunnier climate of the West Indies to start a new life. That was when his first volume of poetry was published, to huge acclaim. He decided instead to move to Edinburgh, where he mingled and was fussed over by the Edinburgh literati and where his second book of poems was later published. As fortune does not always follow fame, Burns was forced to move with his family to Dumfries where he became an excise officer to supplement the frugal income from his poetry. Burns continued to write while collecting taxes, contributing 114 songs to "A select Collections Of Scottish Airs" by George Thomson, but he received very little payment for his efforts. In all more than 400 of Burns' songs still exist. The Man A complex man, Burns was a loyal friend and dangerous enemy with a sharp tongue. He was a loving father as well as a great debater, who needed social stimulus as much as he craved the solitude and quite of his own fireplace. On July 21, 1796 Robert Burns died of rheumatic fever at the age of 37. His last years were devoted to writing some of his best works: "The Lea Rig," "Tam O'Shanter" and "A Red, Red Rose." He died while his wife Jean was giving birth to his ninth child, Maxwell. A Celebration Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of celebrating the birth and the achievements of our best loved bard. The first commemorative Burns Supper was held on his birthday, Jan. 25, 1802 by some of Burns' closest friends in his home town of Alloway. From those humble beginnings sprang a tradition that has spread throughout the world. Although Scotland has produced many great writers and poets, Robert Burns is undoubtedly by far the best loved. Burns and 'a that festival This is a weeklong annual festival celebrating the Bard and contemporary Scottish culture. It takes place in Burns' home in the county of Ayrshire and attracts more than 30,000 people from all over the world. On offer is a gala concert, festival club, open air concerts theatre productions ending with a fire work display. For more information: www.burnsfestival.com A Red, Red Rose O, my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June: My luve's like a melodie, That's sweetly play'd in tune. So fair thou art, my bonie lass, So deep in love am I: And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry. Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi' the sun: And I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands of life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only luve, And fare thee weel awhile! And I will come again, my luve.