July 23: Exploring Scottish poetry

I sign up for University of Glasgow’s MOOC course on Robert Burns to extend my limited knowledge of the bard, limited to 2 words: “Scottish” and “poet”. My first encounter with the name happened 24 years ago when my supervising professor, Dr. James Trotter, himself an alumnus of the university, mentioned a Robbie Burns supper.  The curriculum includes Toronto on a photo credit so I head out to search for a Robert Burns statue. I had expected a long search among many statues, tediously reading faded inscriptions in search of the one.  Instead, I find the Burns statue prominent—the only one in Allan Gardens. It keeps company with the newly reopened Allan Gardens Conservatory. My only visit in the past was a decade ago, shortly after watching Atom Egoyan’s film, Chloe, where one scene was filmed. A glassed domed greenhouse might not be that enticing in the 30 plus degree summer heat.  Only 2 others are visiting—good for distancing measures, not so good for hydration.  Sweat pours forth as soon as I step inside.  Such a lovely place would certainly be more enticing when enveloped in its warmth in wintry months. 

One line of Burnsian poetry rings true of the times:

    "Of best laid schemes of mice and men…"

He must have been prescient of today's world--of pre-pandemic plans being upturned…