As this is Burns Night and the world will be toasting the health of our national bard I thought this poem should examine the faults and flaws which made Robert Burns the man he was. I make no appologies for tackling this poem from an unashamedly female perspective nor for openly admitting why I would have fallen for his charms had I had the chance. I’ve given it the title Seduced I hope you enjoy the read
Seduced
Seduced by his roguish good looks
many women fell into his arms his ability with words
could charm anyone he liked
a pioneer for the rights of ordinary people
his flirtatious nature and womanising ways
led to condemnation from the kirk
who told those in the pews
of the dangers of the demons
drink and fornication
and warned them that hell awaited
those who indulged in intimate relations
outside the marriage bed
not that this stopped Rabbie
in his wandering
trust me ladies this guy
had a roving eye that put Casanova to shame
fron bedrooms to barns
he’d find a lass to keep him warm
in the warmest and coldest of seasons
a farmer he planted seeds all over Ayrshire and beyond
it has to be said he was fond of the lassies
and held sex education classes
in the way he thought nature intended
now some will say it was just his way
whilst others will claim it was his shame
to treat women with less respect than men
and that this was sexism which can’t be disguised
no matter how good his poems and songs may be
I would tend to agree with the latter assessment of his character
and admit that the farmer’s boy had flaws
just like the rest of us
though god knows I would have been seduced by his flattery
if he had wanted a night in the barn
© Gayle Smith 2020