“Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene? Have I so found it full of pleasing charms? Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between; Some gleams of sunshine mid renewing storms,” reads the Robert Burns poem “Stanzas Written in Prospect of Death.” July 21 marks the anniversary of the death of the Ploughman Poet. Burns died in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1796 at the tragically young age of 37.

Regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, few poets have moved as easily between the worlds of rural folk poetry and urban literary circles as Burns. A dedicated collector of folk songs and tunes, an able musician and a gifted lyricist, he is credited with preserving more than 300 Scottish songs, often setting his own lyrics or traditional lyrics to new or revised tunes. Among his best known songs are "Auld Lang Syne," "Scots Wha Hae," and "Flow Gently Sweet Afton."

In describing his method of composition, he said: “I consider the poetic sentiment, correspondent to my idea of the musical expression, then choose my theme, begin one stanza, when that is composed—which is generally the most difficult part of the business. I walk out, sit down now and then, look out for objects in nature around me that are in unison or harmony with the cogitations of my fancy and workings of my bosom, humming every now and then the air with the verses I have framed. When I feel my Muse beginning to jade, I retire to the solitary fireside of my study, and there commit my effusions to paper, swinging, at intervals, on the hind-legs of my elbow chair, by way of calling forth my own critical strictures, as my pen goes.”

As a poet, Burns wrote poetry in both Scots and English, and many of his most memorable works are a careful blend of the two. His themes included Scottish patriotism, class inequalities, gender roles, poverty, sexuality and the beneficial aspects of socializing.

His birthday, January 25, is still celebrated throughout the world with “Burns Suppers,” at which his life is remembered, his memory immortalized, his poems recited and his lyrics enthusiastically sung. In fact, 2009 marked the 250th anniversary of his birth. In celebration, the Library’s American Folklife Center and the Scottish Government hosted a two-day symposium to honor Scotland’s bard. Day one began with a keynote address by Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland. Day two featured a presentation by the Library's Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Kay Ryan and a panel discussion on “Burns and His World.” Other notables in attendance included none other than 007 himself, Sir Sean Connery.