Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.
Paolo Nutini A Man's A Man' for 'a that
Robert Burns 1795
Type: Song
Tune: For a' that.
Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.
A prince can mak(e) a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude(Good) faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.
-------
This poem by Robert Burns I hold as being the ideal we should all seek .
And here's my own lament :
If all are in the end equal then each deserves respect , dignity and justice.
But as always we live in an age that only respects wealth and power.
The people who control Wall Street and those who sees themselves entitled to more than others lord it over the rest of us. They define what success is and what is of worth and what is not. Honesty, integrity, morality , compassion, kindness, altruism, empathy they tell us are just a waste of time when winning is all that counts.
Meanwhile others do without who sometimes suffer having lost their livelihood, their homes, their sense of worth and dignity in a culture that speaks of freedom yet what is freedom when their is hunger and desperation and the others dine and we grovel just for a few crumbs their table.
While those in power dine and attend the rich man's ball while millions do without
While millions cower in the dark as the Drones keep flying and the bombs keep dropping.
While Children are torn to shreds their lives cut short in the name of the Empire and the Emperor sheds phony tears .
While glorious cities are turned to ruins and the streets littered with the dead.
While round the globe each waits for the knock on the door at 3 AM followed by blind rage and ignorance fathers and sons shot and sisters, daughters and mothers violated in the name of the ' Eternal Empire of Men ' who truly live in darkness.
While the Emperor he fills his coffers and those of his friends and tells another generation to wait a little more .
And each Emperor meaning well or not repeats this same refrain til the people rise and the peasants and the shop keepers demand their fair share no more no less.
When those of little means are scorned and treated as fools and the lords sit upon their diamond encrusted golden thrones spouting cliches as if they were wise.
This one day will be a sign to take what those in lofty towers of steel and glass refuse to share.
For more on the life and works of Robert Burns check out Burn's Country
and one more poem I wish to share which could be dedicated to those in power in Canada and America and Europe who's only desire is more wealth and power and fame while stealing what they can from each nation's coffers :
Robert Burns "Such a Parcel of Rogues" Poem animation
Uploaded on 9 Jun 2011
Heres a virtual movie of the great Scots poet Robert Burns reading his bitter but beautiful poem more often heard these days as a folk song "Such a Parcel of Rogues" Written in 1791.Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation is a Scottish folk song whose lyrics are taken from an eponymous Robert Burns poem of 1791. It derides those members of the Parliament of Scotland who signed the Act of Union with England in 1707, comparing their treachery to the country with the tradition of martial valor and resistance commonly associated with such historic figures as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. It has continued to be associated with Scottish nationalism and also been referenced in other situations where politicians' actions have gone against popular opinion.
Written in 1791, Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation is Robert Burns' famous poem on the 1707 Acts of Union, which joined the parliaments of England and Scotland to create the nation of Great Britain.
It contains the lines 'We're bought and sold for English gold' -- \ Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! echoing the sentiment that Scottish landowners, bankrupted in part by the disastrous Darien Scheme, sold out the Scottish nation for their own financial gain. The melody and lyrics were published in James Hogg's Jacobite Reliques of 1817 (no. 36).
Robert Burns (25 January 1759 -- 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard[1][2]) was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.
Kind Regards
Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2011
and so it goes,
GORD.
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