The Bard's Birthday

There will be many recitations of Tam o'Shanter throughout the world today.

........For Nannie, far before the rest,
Hard upon the noble Maggie prest,
And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;
But little wist she Maggie's mettle-
Ae spring brought off her master hale,
But left behind her ain grey tail:
The carlin claught her by the rump,
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.