Today's episode is a brief biography of one of the most notable Romantic era poets, Robert Burns. Born in 1759 to a poor Scottish farming family, Burns' life experiences and gift for prose made him a talented poet whose works covered a variety of themes. He wrote about nature, religion, and his liberal views made him a symbol for the struggles faced by the common man. His egalitarian style and message for political liberty and equality made him both loved and loathed by his contemporaries. Today, his poetic legacy lives on in Scottish descendants around the world honoring him with Burns Dinners and preserving his poetry. If you've ever sung Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve, you're carrying on the legacy of Robert Burns.