ROBERT BURNS

Robert Burns is Scotland's best loved poet for over 200 years, and Alexander Dawson's favorite.  Today is his birthday and he is honored with suppers, initiated in 1796 after his death by his closest friends and remains unchanged since that time.  His importance as the people's poet is a living tradition, carried from generation to generation, running deep in the veins of Scots all over the world.  His poems reflected the culture and politics of the day when ordinary people dreamed of throwing off the yoke of repression and finding true freedom.  'Rabbie' died at the age of 37, 21 July 1796.
As the politics heat up in this country, it might be good to reflect on his remarkable poems and raise a toast to a 'Son of Scotland'.
For A' 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 riband, star, and 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 ranks 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!

Robert Burns