Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

[Ralph Katzenell]

Greetings all.
Burns night is upon us once more.
And it is my pleasant duty to give a rendition, translated into English, understandable to those unfortunate souls born south of the Watford gap.

My choice this year is "Scotch Drink".

And oh! The shame of it!!
I have a problem understanding the context and "thrust" of one verse.
Both preceeding and following verses celebrate how Scotch Drink overcomes difficuties in life.

However, this verse just seems to be a complaint against poor quality midwives, and notes their dismissal without payment for their bad work. Where's the relationship to Scotch Drink?

. . . 
When skirling weanies see the light, 
Though maks the gossips clatter bright, 
How fumblin' cuiffs their dearies slight; 
Wae worth the name! 
Nae howdie gets a social night, 
Or plack frae them. 
. . . 
Can someone provide a good, rythmic translation into modern English of just this verse, plus a short explanation of how it fits into the context of preceeding and following verses.


Ralph

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