The 25th of January is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard. 2009 is also Scotland's Year of Homecoming to commemorate this.
At a time when there is terrible conflict in Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous other places around the world, I wanted to share a piece of poetry written by Burns. To me this poem epitomises what SBG is all about. The friendship, sense of belonging and "brothership" that exists on this site is what Burns poem is all about - "that man to man the world o'er shall brothers be for a' that"
The Scots song "Is There For Honest Poverty", by Robert Burns, is more commonly known as "A Man's A Man For A' That", and famous for its expression of egalitarian ideas of society, which may be seen as anticipating the ideas of liberalism that arose in the 18th century, and those of socialism which arose in the 19th century. The poem also encompasses many freemasonic ideals and symbols.
The song was sung at the opening of the Scottish Parliament, and also at the funeral of Donald Dewar, the original First Minister of Scotland. It is also known in translations into other European languages, for example the German "Trotz Alledem Und Alledem".
The words 'pride o' worth' appear on the crest of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
[edit] Lyrics
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 cuif 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 a belted knight,
A marquis, 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 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.
Thank you for reading, and if you are having a Burns celebration, I hope its a good one.
PS Maybe Tyler will adopt this as the forums official poem!
