Selected for 11 August
This was the birthday of Christopher Murray Grieve who, under the pen name Hugh MacDiarmid, did nearly as much for his native country and its culture as his predecessor Burns. MacDiarmid used the slogan, 'not Burns, but Dunbar', to diminish the importance of Burns and promote that of the medieval makar and by implication, himself. This was maybe necessary since MacDiarmid's magnificence as a poet was not recognised quickly enough as his masterworks emerged. His favourite poem by Burns was Mary Morrison but the Bard's brilliant use of Scots inspired his own linguistic innovations. Each relished words like 'kimmer', a woman, a companion, usually talkative. And both men liked a dram!
Donny O'Rourke
