Robert Burns Poem: To A Mouse + Modern English Translation 

As someone whose first language isn't English, I truly appreciate modern English translations of past literature. It's a great way to introduce ideas and stories.

We enjoyed this on this chilly November night and felt for the mousie and the man.

I remember having to remember this off by heart when I was 7/8 in primary 4 and I was so nervous but 12/13 years later I now love this poem and it’s definitely one of the best poems of all time

thank you! the best thing about Burns poems are the people they brought me near to

Exactly what I was looking for. Hearing the poem spoken and having it translated bridges the gap and allows me to enjoy his works. Thank you, Alastair, I just bought your Burns Nature book on audible!

When I heard your accent I got really excited because of how fitting it is for this poem!

I nice rendition for Burns' Night. such a great poem for anyone who appreciates a balanced walk upon the earth

A million thanks! That was one of the best eight minutes I have ever spent on RU-vid! I just bought the electronic version on Amazon, and will write a review. Again, thank you for this video!

Thank you, Alastair, for introducing me to Robert Burns. I enjoyed your story of your father reciting this poem to you as a child, I enjoyed your authentic recitation of the poem, and I am grateful for your translation in English. I would love to go pub hopping with you sometime.

My father used to read and quote these poems. I always loved them. He had a record of someone reading them as well. Thanks you for your work.

Thank you so much for a mellifluous, lyrical reading of the Burns poem in a truly authentic brogue! What a treat! And your translation into modern English was very useful, not only in understanding all of the poem, but in applying the larger theme of controlling one’s destiny to Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. Lenny, like the mouse, is challenged only by the present, while his more intelligent companion, George, will continue to regret the past as well as to fear the future.

This was very well done. My grandpa treated me to this poem only one time, then he said "Remember Robert Burns" He was not one to recite poetry, but for me he did. Mother said that he used to refer to me as his wee mouse. So thank you for the translation. It sounded like Grandpa.

I have loved this poem since reading it as a child. It is nice to hear it in the proper accent.

Thank you so much, such a beautiful recital and a well done translation.

Thank you, Alastair. I enjoyed both readings very much.

POV: You're watching this for an English assignment

Excellent reading of the original and modern translation! Thank you so much. I am using this for my English class leading in to teaching John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men as I have read that this poem influenced his creation of the title.

This has always been one of my favorites of all time. Simple but powerful. Thank you for this recital.

I'm they call First Nations now (we had been know North American "Indians") I used to teach at an all native (First Nations) school. One of my lectures was called "what we owe to Robie Burns." His class jumping and nature loving publications were very much the way we think now.

Deep water...good job mate...June 15, 2021 USA. Duane H.H. Lyon

Thank you! Very much the recitals. Going on Amazon tonight to buy your book.

Thank you for reciting both the original and modern version of Burns' poem. loved it and the extra information that you provided about the composition of this poem

Thank you so much for the translation, this will help with my Scottish Studies essay on Robert Burns.

What a joy to hear this. Thank you for reading both versions.

Thank you for posting such an accessible and clear presentation of this famous poem by Robert Burns. Your generosity in sharing and explaining the cultural experience passed down from your father is much appreciated! I am a Canadian of Scottish ancestry, and have read this poem in print all my life, as it is a very well known work of English literature. Yet I always knew, when I would try to recite it, that my pronunciation was far from the original. To hear a native speaker recite the poem gives me a chance to finally perfect my Scots pronunciation. Furthermore, I have understood the general meaning of the lines and the touching yet reflective theme of the poem for many years, but certain words of the Scots vocabulary were not clear to me. Your understanding that greater clarity of the meaning of the words for those who don’t know the dialect was bang on. Hearing the modern English translation has made the subtleties of the poem clearer to me. It is indeed a classic work with a very meaningful message about humanity’s relationship with nature

We have watched your review in all my American Literature classes today. Thanks so much for the authentic reading and translation.

Thank you. This was enjoyed over a Burn's night supper.

Delightful subject and recital - many thanks.

Thank you for the original and the modern translation. What a great poem and the back story is a very nice addition. Well done.

This was a lovely reading, thank you, and all the best to you and yours.

Thank you I am just discovering Burns and really enjoyed this finding it both moving and informative. I am off in search of your audio books.

The way you say the word "Poem" is so funny, thanks for brightening my day!

Thanks for this. I show it to my students each year when we finish reading "Of Mice and Men" so that they better understand the title.

I love this poem and I think your reading of it was fantastic. Thank you!

I enjoyed your readings and historical information - thanks! :)

Love to hear it spoken and appreciate the updated version and explanation

Thank you for your lovely reading and translation :)

Really enjoyed the reading and the translation

Thank you so much for the beautiful recital of a poem I've always loved. The translation is also much appreciated. .

I have so enjoyed listening to your recital of the poem and your explanatory translation and pronunciation. Thank you. As you can see by my name, I have Scots ancestry; my father and grandparents were from Ayrshire. The poem is the most touching identification with our fellow creatures-- and then with ourselves -- ever written.

Really enjoyed listening to you ! Really good to hear in old Scots and the modern interpretation !

Excellent. My father used to recite parts of it but no translation. His observations are still valid today, probably more so as we have more to worry about. Thanks.

As a Scot living in USA I was so glad it was done in a Scottish accent my brother love Robert Burns and so did my my father. Now I find my grandson also is into him which came with a great surprise but it’s nice to see the traditions carried on my mother always told me we were related To him through the name armor I think that’s how you spell it anyway keep up the good work cheers

I enjoyed that very much sir. Thank you kindly for your time, it made for a pleasant afternoon break! -David

I love Burns poetry. I appreciate your modern translation. Thank you

So beautifully recited. TY. ❤

Thank you Alastair for the excellent reading and explanation. Book on order now. (From an American Ayrshire Scot descendant.)

Funny your dad learned this for a function. I'm currently learning this piece to recite at the restaurant I work in on Burns night. Your video has helped a lot with the pronunciation of the old Scots text. Thanks so much

Alastair, thanks. After listening to this I just bought your audiobook.

Really liked your recital. It makes me want to learn more. Thank you

Thank you so much for your Burns original and translation. Burn’s Mouse masrepiece had never been accessible to me before. Thank you.

After watching your video, I immediately went to Amazon and purchased the book. Very enjoyable. Thank you so much!

Excellent reading and informative background to this great poem

Enjoyed this, great to have a translation and context, all in a good Scot’s accent!

Great voice. Best reciting of Robert Burns I’ve ever heard. Thanks

What a wonderfully authentic reading and translation of Burn's poem! Thank you for sharing your insight! Best of luck to you on your writing career! Please keep narrating your writing on audio too!

I like it so much..............Will listen to it a few more times. Thanks !

Good to have someone take the time to share their culture with others! Like this a lot!

Wonderful! This was my grandfather's favorite Rabbie poem, and as an American born, I had the 'jist'... But this was EXCELLENT As I played this I saw a twinkle in my dad's eye and he started to recite it with a thick broughe! Thanks

Really enjoyed that - thank you!

This is the best I have listened to. Thankyou

Great! Thank you very much for that. I really love it.

Excellent, Thank you so much niffo

Cheers tae yir guid sel fir thon braw recital, brither!

Thank you so much for the reading, and background. I've ordered your 'nature' book, and interested to know that there are others.

loved it. thank you and understood it.

thank you. so relevant at the moment. i really connected with the poem.

Wonderful! Delightful recitation and meaningful but concise comments.

That was great, really! Thanks for the translation too because I couldn't understand most of the poem, cheers.

I have enjoyed this recital. Thank you for providing both the original and modern translation.

It’s comforting to me to know that- even over 200 years ago, someone else thought & felt as I do about the poor defenseless wee creatures. Thanks 😘

Fantastic, thank you for the old Scots and modern English translations

Thank you. It was wonderful that you shared this. It helped both me and my Anglo friend understand.

Alastair's recital and translation of "To a Mouse" is a pleasure to the ear. His translation I find thoughtful, and different that others I have seen. I share Burns' grief the split between humans and all the rest of nature. I will look to buy Alastair's book online, NATURE: 12 WORKS INSPIRED BY NATURE, BY ROBERT BURNS

So nice to hear you read it and then explain it. Your reading was way better than the one my friend sent. My dear friend is Scottish and lives in Scotland I live in USA and I love languages so he speaks Scottish to me and sends emails. So I am getting it slowly 😄. He sent this poem with no translation 🤣. So glad I came across your video! May the Lord bless you! Stay close to Him and His Word as the world is going crazy, especially America!

Thanks for this. I live in Australia now and am trying to instil a love of Scotland in the Bairns.

Such a splendid recitation, Mr. Turnbull!

you saved my day... I aint a big fan of poems but have a IGCSE exam tomoorow on the novel "of mice and men" and this video truly helped me to understand why steinbeck chose this title!!! I hope that you are able to get more popolarity as an auther... Your video was great!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I enjoyed the reading so much. The accent only made more so. I was un love wuth poetry as a youth and life gets in the way. Thank you so much for the renewal of enlightenment.

Excellent! Moving! Alastair, you did an amazing interpretation of the poem. The Robert Burns poem is in itself a heartbreaking apology from a man for its destruction of the environment - and it is so clear than way back in 1785 Robert Burns knew how corrupt humans were and their propensity for tyranny over the lives of others. This video is perfect in every way and sublime! - I Subscribed in 2021

I suggest you include the book title and your full name in the description above. I googled the title and found your work on Amazon, but some people might not do that. I really enjoyed your reading of the peom. I've been listening to songs of Robert Burns by Jean Redpath and Ewan Macoll, and am eager to read your book. Thanks for posting this!

Thank you. This helped me to prepare for a reading of this poem at a Burns Night supper.

Thank you for sharing.

My father is going to a Robert Burns party next week and is using your video to learn this poem :) You're amazing and he's so grateful for your help (especially the translation!). Thank you for the recital!

Loved it, thank you

Thank you very much for posting this video, your reading of the poem is excellent and reading it twice is perfect, it helps to understand it more. Yet, you are right, the original version sounds much better.

Very good and the translation!

Just bought. Thank you so much.

Brilliant. Thank you.

You are doing a great service to Burns, and to mankind, in making his work intelligible outside of Scotland. I know there is a movement not to dilute the Scots dialect, so this is an excellent compromise.

Wonderful!

Very well read especially in both readings . I will indeed purchase the book as the poetry book I had on Burns got lost .

Thank you for sharing

Really enjoyed your rendition….. from Ireland…where RB’s photo hung on the wall of my Grandfathers house.

Wasnt sure if I was going to like the English translation but it was so well done and educational to grasp more of the words properly and understand the poem 🐀❤

Pretty Poem Guy Loveeeeeee Scotland!!!!!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💌

very nice Alistair!

Heading to my first Burns party tomorrow. Wish you were coming!

Enjoyed this, sir.

Brought our lockdown Burn's night to life! Thank you