URL this page at http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.child/amansaman.htm or through <www.forallthat.com> and its <Complete Index> Feedback to nick.child@virgin.net
This web-site's name, 'forallthat', is a reference to this poem of Burns which expresses the honest worth and equality of human beings, poor or grand, as human beings. The theme of the web-site is demystification and Burns sees through appearances. Apologies for his gender bias - but it is mainly men who need to learn this lesson, isn't it, and the poetry would be destroyed if politically corrected! Please take the meaning and broaden 'man' to refer to the human race!
A Man's A Man For A' That
By Robert Burns
Is there for honest poverty, That hangs his head and a' that,
The coward slave we pass him by, We dare be puir for a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that, Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea stamp; The man's the gowd for a' that.
What tho' on hamely fare we dine, Wear hodden 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 tho' e'er sae puir, Is king o' men for a' that.
3.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, Wha struts and stares, an' a' that,
Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a cuif, for a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that, His ribbon star, an' a' that,
The man o' independent mind, he looks and laughs at a' that.
4.
A king can mak' a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that,
But an honest man's abune his might, Gude faith he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities, an' a' that,
The pith o' sense, the pride o' worth, Are higher ranks than a' that.
5.
Then let us pray that come it may, As come it will for a' that,
That sense and worth o'er a' the earth, May bear the gree an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that, It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man to man the warld o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that.
abune = above; birkie = mettlesome fellow; cuif = simpleton
gowd = gold; gree = victory; hodden grey = coarse woollen stuff
maunna fa' = mustn't fail
If you want to see something completely different inspired by this Burns poem,
go to Gordon Lochhead's Silver Sculpture website and "Casting the Kensui"
nick.child@virgin.net