Scottish poems

Robert Burns poem set to traditional melody

noblewoman; British writer (1750-1825)

poem by Walter Scott

traditional song

1808 poem by Walter Scott with 1811, 1885, and 1889 reprints

1841 poem and nursery rhyme

1748 poem written by James Thomson

a poem in four parts by James Thomson

poem by Robert Burns

Hallaig is the most recognized poem of Sorley MacLean, an important Scottish poet of the 20th century. After writing it, MacLean rose to fame in the English-speaking world. It was originally written in Scottish Gaelic since the author was born on the island of Raasay, where Scottish Gaelic was the everyday language. During the course of time the poem has been translated into both English and Lowland Scots. A recent translation (2002) was made by Seamus Heaney, an Irish Nobel Prize winner. thumb|Hallaig