Locations in Harold's Library
- The Book of St Andrews (book)
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1 thought on “Robert Fergusson Night”
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I love this poem; I often think about what poets we neglect simply because they are not considered superlative. Scott has his monument, but no Scott Night, so his works are seldom read (not that you could read Waverley in an evening anyway, although you could certainly read “The Lady of the Lake”).
Fergusson died in an asylum in his twenties, yet already left enough of a mark for Burns to write a poem mourning his early death and recognising him as a role model. This is what’s recognised in the final three lines of the poem:
But why not? Why not a yearly Robert Fergusson night. Not around the world perhaps. But in St Andrews. annually? Why not? Whyever not? And ditto for other poets … perhaps I should start an annual Thomas Hardy night. And there should be an annual Alan Ross night as well as an annual Philip Larkin night and A. E. Housman night at St John’s …