It is Burns Night. Celebrating the birth of the Bard of Ayrshire, classic liberal, a man whose literary influence is felt in Scotland, Britain, and where ever the Scots go (which is darn near everywhere). It is a night for the Selkirk Grace–but I think A Man’s A Man For All That.
Is there for honest poverty That hangs 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 toil's obscure and 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, an' a' that Their tinsel show an' a' that The honest man, though 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 and a' that The man o' independent mind He looks an' laughs at a' that A prince can mak' a belted knight A marquise, duke, an' a' that But an honest man's aboon his might Gude 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 that 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 brithers be for a' that
A truly classic man of letters! Thanks!
Comment by Old NFO — Tuesday, 26, January, 2010 @ 01:10 |