“Robert Burns: Poet Laureate of Love and National Poet of Scotland (and the World)”  Scottish poet and songwriter Robert Burns (1759-1796) lived most of his life as an obscure peasant, never left his native country, published only one book in his lifetime, and died at the age of 37. Yet within a few years of his death, annual Burns Suppers were being held and he became the international poster boy for freedom (religious, sexual and personal) and the “Poet Laureate of Love.” His poetry has been published in several languages and many countries claim him as their own. Today, how many Milton Clubs are there? How many annual Shakespeare dinners are being held? Yet Burnsians are accused of bordering on a cult. How did this happen? Priscilla ("Pete") Kucik is a charter member and president of the Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee, a member of the St. Andrew's Society of Milwaukee and past Wisconsin commissioner for Clan MacLeod, she gives talks for the Celtic Women First Friday lecture series, and her favorite color is plaid.