Well today is Burns Night which celebrates the life and works of Robert (Rabbie) Burns - the Bard (poet) of Scotland. 25th January was his birthday (b.1759) and this is traditionally celebrated in Scotland with a Burns Supper, usually formal, when the poem 'To a Haggis', amongst others, is read.
Many of you will be familiar with 'Auld Lang Syne' sung at New Year.
This is another of his many poems, about winter, I thought you might like;
Winter: A Dirge (1781)
The wintry west extends his blast,
And hail and rain does blaw;
Or the stormy north sends driving forth
The blinding sleet and snaw:
While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down,
And roars frae bank to brae;
And bird and beast in covert rest,
And pass the heartless day.
"The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast,"
The joyless winter day
Let others fear, to me more dear
Than all the pride of May:
The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul,
My griefs it seems to join;
The leafless trees my fancy please,
Their fate resembles mine!
Thou Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme
These woes of mine fulfil,
Here firm I rest; they must be best,
Because they are Thy will!
Then all I want-O do Thou grant
This one request of mine!-
Since to enjoy Thou dost deny,
Assist me to resign.